PARTNERS BANCORP - Quarter Report: 2021 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q


☒	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021
or
☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 001-39285

Partners Bancorp

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland	52-1559535
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
2245 Northwood Drive, Salisbury, Maryland	21801
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

410-548-1100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share	PTRS	Nasdaq Capital Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer”, "accelerated filer", "smaller reporting company" and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer ☐	Accelerated filer ☐	Non-accelerated filer ☒		Smaller reporting company ☒	Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

As of November 12, 2021 there were 17,856,472 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION



		Page
Item 1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)		3

Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)		4

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)		5

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited)		6

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)		7

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)		8

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		45

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		78

Item 4. Controls and Procedures		78

PART II OTHER INFORMATION


Item 1. Legal Proceedings		78

Item 1A. Risk Factors		78

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		81

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities		81

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures		81

Item 5. Other Information		81

EXHIBIT INDEX		82

SIGNATURES		84

Table of Contents

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

PARTNERS BANCORP

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


	September 30,		December 31,
	2021		2020
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)	(Unaudited)		*
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$	16,176	$	13,643
Interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions		300,771		218,667
Federal funds sold		29,995		50,301
Cash and cash equivalents		346,942		282,611
Securities available for sale, at fair value		115,550		124,925
Loans held for sale		5,803		9,858
Loans, less allowance for credit losses of $15,031 at September 30, 2021 and $13,203 at December 31, 2020		1,090,169		1,022,302
Accrued interest receivable		4,408		5,229
Premises and equipment, less accumulated depreciation		16,347		15,439
Restricted stock		4,869		5,445
Operating lease right-of-use assets		6,726		3,983
Financing lease right-of-use assets		1,721		1,824
Other investments		5,075		5,091
Bank owned life insurance		18,141		14,841
Other real estate owned, net		1,303		2,677
Core deposit intangible, net		2,205		2,660
Goodwill		9,582		9,582
Other assets		9,007		7,754
Total assets	$	1,637,848	$	1,514,221
LIABILITIES
Deposits:
Non-interest bearing demand	$	493,786	$	390,511
Interest bearing demand		148,955		125,131
Savings and money market		382,992		323,488
Time		409,720		429,010
		1,435,453		1,268,140
Accrued interest payable on deposits		311		402
Long-term borrowings with the Federal Home Loan Bank		26,478		32,972
Subordinated notes payable, net		22,157		24,101
Other borrowings		640		42,382
Operating lease liabilities		7,053		4,301
Financing lease liabilities		2,155		2,242
Other liabilities		4,053		2,986
Total liabilities		1,498,300		1,377,526
COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES & SUBSEQUENT EVENT
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, par value $.01, authorized 40,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 17,788,472 as of September 30, 2021 and 17,758,448 as of December 31, 2020, including 58,824 nonvested shares as of September 30, 2021 and 0 nonvested shares as of December 31, 2020		177		178
Surplus		87,058		87,200
Retained earnings		50,289		45,673
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries		1,121		1,346
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax		903		2,298
Total stockholders' equity		139,548		136,695
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	1,637,848	$	1,514,221

* Derived from audited consolidated financial statements

The Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

PARTNERS BANCORP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	2021		2020		2021		2020
INTEREST INCOME ON:
Loans, including fees	$	13,381	$	12,816	$	39,619	$	39,308
Investment securities:
Taxable		310		473		757		1,337
Tax-exempt		216		241		661		702
Federal funds sold		25		5		44		117
Other interest income		149		119		404		478
		14,081		13,654		41,485		41,942
INTEREST EXPENSE ON:
Deposits		1,639		2,288		5,234		7,331
Borrowings		507		816		1,667		2,053
		2,146		3,104		6,901		9,384
NET INTEREST INCOME		11,935		10,550		34,584		32,558
Provision for (recovery of) credit losses		(30)		1,967		2,568		5,142
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR (RECOVERY OF) CREDIT LOSSES		11,965		8,583		32,016		27,416
OTHER INCOME:
Service charges on deposit accounts		225		197		575		628
Gain on sales and calls of investment securities		3		—		22		568
Mortgage banking income, net		957		1,305		3,065		2,589
Gains on disposal of other assets		—		—		1		—
Other income		891		828		2,880		2,236
		2,076		2,330		6,543		6,021
OTHER EXPENSES:
Salaries and employee benefits		5,837		5,124		16,783		14,725
Premises and equipment		1,313		1,150		3,789		3,407
Amortization of core deposit intangible		148		177		455		540
Losses on other real estate owned, net		35		31		183		75
Other expenses		3,057		2,767		9,130		8,347
		10,390		9,249		30,340		27,094
INCOME BEFORE TAXES ON INCOME		3,651		1,664		8,219		6,343
Federal and state income taxes		839		308		1,847		1,410
NET INCOME	$	2,812	$	1,356	$	6,372	$	4,933
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest		(116)		(239)		(426)		(370)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARTNERS BANCORP	$	2,696	$	1,117	$	5,946	$	4,563

Earnings per common share
Basic earnings per share	$	0.152	$	0.063	$	0.335	$	0.256
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.151	$	0.063	$	0.334	$	0.256

The Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

PARTNERS BANCORP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2021		2020		2021		2020
NET INCOME	$	2,812	$	1,356	$	6,372	$	4,933
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX:
Unrealized holding (losses) gains on securities available for sale arising during the period		287		65		(1,818)		2,452
Deferred income tax effect		(490)		(17)		440		(650)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		(203)		48		(1,378)		1,802

Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income		(2)		—		(22)		(568)
Deferred income tax effect		4		—		5		151
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		2		—		(17)		(417)
TOTAL OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME		(201)		48		(1,395)		1,385
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$	2,611	$	1,404		4,977		6,318
COMPREHENSIVE (INCOME) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTEREST		(116)		(239)		(426)		(370)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARTNERS BANCORP	$	2,495	$	1,165	$	4,551	$	5,948

The Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

PARTNERS BANCORP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

(Unaudited)


For the three months ended:									Accumulated
									Other		Total
	Common				Retained		Noncontrolling		Comprehensive		Stockholders'
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)	Stock		Surplus		Earnings		Interest		Income		Equity
Balances, June 30, 2020	$	178	$	87,552	$	44,341	$	824	$	2,076	$	134,971
Net income		—		—		1,117		239		—		1,356
Other comprehensive income, net of tax		—		—		—		—		48		48
												1,404
Cash dividends, $0.025 per share		—		—		(445)		—		—		(445)
Stock option exercises, net		—		4		—		—		—		4
Stock-based compensation expense		—		6		—		—		—		6
Balances, September 30, 2020	$	178	$	87,562	$	45,013	$	1,063	$	2,124	$	135,940

Balances, June 30, 2021	$	177	$	87,021	$	48,038	$	1,005	$	1,104	$	137,345
Net income		—		—		2,696		116		—		2,812
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax		—		—		—		—		(201)		(201)
												2,611
Cash dividends, $0.025 per share		—		—		(445)		—		—		(445)
Stock-based compensation expense		—		37		—		—		—		37
Balances, September 30, 2021	$	177	$	87,058	$	50,289	$	1,121	$	903	$	139,548


For the nine months ended:									Accumulated
									Other		Total
	Common				Retained		Noncontrolling		Comprehensive		Stockholders'
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)	Stock		Surplus		Earnings		Interest		Income		Equity
Balances, December 31, 2019	$	178	$	87,437	$	41,785	$	738	$	739	$	130,877
Net income		—		—		4,563		370		—		4,933
Other comprehensive income, net of tax		—		—		—		—		1,385		1,385
												6,318
Cash dividends, $0.075 per share		—		—		(1,335)		—		—		(1,335)
Minority interest equity distribution		—		—		—		(45)		—		(45)
Stock option exercises, net		—		98		—		—		—		98
Warrant exercises, net		—		10		—		—		—		10
Stock-based compensation expense		—		17		—		—		—		17
Balances, September 30, 2020	$	178	$	87,562	$	45,013	$	1,063	$	2,124	$	135,940

Balances, December 31, 2020	$	178	$	87,200	$	45,673	$	1,346	$	2,298	$	136,695
Net income		—		—		5,946		426		—		6,372
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax		—		—		—		—		(1,395)		(1,395)
												4,977
Cash dividends, $0.075 per share		—		—		(1,330)		—		—		(1,330)
Stock repurchases		(1)		(208)		—		—		—		(209)
Minority interest equity distribution		—		—		—		(651)		—		(651)
Stock-based compensation expense		—		66		—		—		—		66
Balances, September 30, 2021	$	177	$	87,058	$	50,289		1,121	$	903	$	139,548

The Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

PARTNERS BANCORP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)


	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)	2021		2020
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	5,946	$	4,563
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for credit losses		2,568		5,142
Depreciation		1,209		1,076
Amortization and accretion		847		457
Gain on sales and calls of investment securities		(22)		(568)
Net gains on sales of assets		(1)		—
Loss (gains) on equity securities		38		(47)
Gain on sale of loans held for sale, originated		(2,863)		(2,434)
Net losses (gains) on other real estate owned, including write‑downs		118		(18)
Increase in bank owned life insurance cash surrender value		(300)		(170)
Stock‑based compensation expense, net of employee tax obligation		66		17
Net accretion of certain acquisition related fair value adjustments		(679)		(843)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Loans held for sale		6,918		(1,776)
Accrued interest receivable		821		(3,116)
Other assets		(3,447)		(399)
Accrued interest payable on deposits		(91)		(124)
Other liabilities		3,819		(1,033)
Net cash provided by operating activities		14,947		727
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of securities available for sale		(43,912)		(59,258)
Purchases of other investments		(23)		(1,890)
Purchases of bank owned life insurance		(3,000)		(6,760)
Purchase of restricted stock		(90)		—
Proceeds from maturities and paydowns of securities available for sale		24,477		19,509
Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale		26,200		18,052
Net increase in loans		(69,460)		(60,718)
Proceeds from sale of assets		174		1
Purchases of premises and equipment		(2,116)		(3,040)
Proceeds from the sales of foreclosed assets		1,256		147
Proceeds from redemption of restricted stock		666		890
Net cash used by investing activities		(65,828)		(93,067)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase in demand, money market, and savings deposits, net		186,603		239,706
Cash received for the exercise of stock options		—		98
Cash received for the exercise of warrants		—		10
Decrease in time deposits, net		(19,301)		(11,564)
(Decrease) increase in borrowings, net		(50,239)		59,365
Net (decrease) increase in minority interest contributed capital		(225)		325
Decrease in finance lease liability		(87)		(85)
Cash paid for stock repurchases		(209)		—
Dividends paid		(1,330)		(1,335)
Net cash provided by financing activities		115,212		286,520
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		64,331		194,180
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		282,611		95,111
Cash and cash equivalents, ending of period	$	346,942	$	289,291
Supplementary cash flow information:
Interest paid	$	7,422	$	9,509
Income taxes paid		2,400		3,559
Right of use assets and corresponding lease liabilities		3,016		—
Total (loss) gain on securities available for sale	$	(1,840)	$	1,386
SUPPLEMENTARY NON‑CASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Loans converted to other real estate owned	$	—	$	508

The Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

PARTNERS BANCORP

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. Nature of Business and Its Significant Accounting Policies

Partners Bancorp (the “Company”) is a multi-bank holding company with two wholly owned subsidiaries (the “Subsidiaries”), The Bank of Delmarva (“Delmarva”), a commercial bank headquartered in Seaford, Delaware that operates primarily in Wicomico and Worcester counties in Maryland, Sussex County in Delaware, and Camden and Burlington counties in New Jersey, and Virginia Partners Bank (“Partners”), a commercial bank headquartered in Fredericksburg, Virginia that operates primarily in and around the greater Fredericksburg, Virginia area, including Stafford County, Spotsylvania County, King George County, Caroline County, and the Cities of Fredericksburg and Reston, Virginia. Partners also operates in Anne Arundel County and the three counties of Southern Maryland, including Charles County, Calvert County, and St. Mary’s County. The Subsidiaries engage in the general banking business and provide a broad range of financial services to individual and corporate customers, and are subject to competition from other financial institutions. The Subsidiaries are also subject to the regulations of certain federal and state agencies and undergo periodic examinations by those regulatory authorities. The accounting and reporting policies of the Company and its Subsidiaries conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and practices within the banking industry.

Significant accounting policies not disclosed elsewhere in the consolidated financial statements are as follows:

Principles of Consolidation:

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company; the Subsidiaries, along with their consolidated subsidiaries: Delmarva Real Estate Holdings, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Delmarva, which is a real estate holding company; Davie Circle, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delmarva, which is a real estate holding company; Delmarva BK Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delmarva, which is a real estate holding company; DHB Development, LLC, of which Delmarva holds a 40.55% interest, and which is a real estate holding company; West Nithsdale Enterprises, LLC, of which Delmarva holds a 10% interest, and which is a real estate holding company; and FBW, LLC, of which Delmarva holds 50% interest, and which is a real estate holding company; Bear Holdings, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Partners, which is a real estate holding company; Johnson Mortgage Company, LLC, of which Partners owns a 51% interest, and which is a residential mortgage company; and 410 William Street, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Partners, which holds investment property. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Financial Statement Presentation:

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements do not include all information and notes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations, changes in stockholder's equity, and cash flows in conformity with U.S. GAAP. In the opinion of management, the unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the results of its operations for three and nine months and its cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 are in conformity with U.S. GAAP.

Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2021, or for any other period.

Use of Estimates:

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Table of Contents

Securities Available for Sale:

Marketable debt securities not classified as held to maturity are classified as available for sale. Securities available for sale are acquired as part of the Subsidiaries' asset/liability management strategy and may be sold in response to changes in interest rates, loan demand, changes in prepayment risk, and other factors. Securities available for sale are carried at fair value as determined by quoted market prices. Unrealized gains or losses based on the difference between amortized cost and fair value are reported in other comprehensive income, net of deferred tax. Realized gains and losses, using the specific identification method, are included as a separate component of other income (expense) and, when applicable, are reported as a reclassification adjustment, net of tax, in other comprehensive income. Premiums and discounts are recognized in interest income using the interest method over the period to maturity. Additionally, declines in the fair value of individual investment securities below their cost that are other than temporary are reflected as realized losses in the consolidated statements of income.

Impairment may result from credit deterioration of the issuer or collateral underlying the security. In performing an assessment of recoverability, all relevant information is considered, including the length of time and extent to which fair value has been less than the amortized cost basis, the cause of the price decline, credit performance of the issuer and underlying collateral, and recoveries or further declines in fair value subsequent to the balance sheet date.

For debt securities, the Company measures and recognizes other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses through earnings if (1) the Company has the intent to sell the security or (2) it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. In these circumstances, the impairment loss is equal to the full difference between the amortized cost basis and the fair value of the security. For securities that are considered OTTI that the Company has the intent and ability to hold in an unrealized loss position, the OTTI write-down is separated into an amount representing the credit loss, which is recognized in earnings, and the amount related to other factors, which is recognized as a component of other comprehensive income (“OCI”).

Restricted Stock, Equity Securities and Other Investments:

Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) stock, at cost, Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock, at cost, Atlantic Central Bankers Bank (“ACBB”) stock, at cost, and Community Bankers Bank (“CBB”) stock, are equity interests in the FRB, FHLB, ACBB, and CBB, respectively. These securities do not have a readily determinable fair value for purposes of ASC 320-10 Investments-Debts and Equity Securities (“ASC 320-10”) because their ownership is restricted and they lack an active market. As there is no readily determinable fair value for these securities, they are carried at cost less any OTTI.

Equity securities with readily determinable fair values are carried at fair value, with changes in fair value reported in net income. Any equity securities without readily determinable fair values are carried at cost, minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments. The entirety of any impairment on equity securities is recognized in earnings.

Other investments includes an equity ownership of Solomon Hess SBA Loan Fund LLC which the value is adjusted for its prorata share of assets in the fund. Other investments also includes equity securities the Company holds with Community Capital Management in their Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) Qualified Investment Fund.

Bank Owned Life Insurance

The Company has purchased life insurance policies on certain key executives. Bank owned life insurance is recorded at the amount that can be realized under the insurance contract at the balance sheet date, which is the cash surrender value adjusted for other changes or amounts due that are probable at settlement.

Table of Contents

Loans and the Allowance for Credit Losses:

Loans are generally carried at the amount of unpaid principal, adjusted for unearned loan fees, which are amortized over the term of the loan using the effective interest rate method. Interest on loans is accrued based on the principal amounts outstanding. It is the Subsidiaries' policy to discontinue the accrual of interest when a loan is specifically determined to be impaired or when principal or interest is delinquent for ninety days or more. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, all interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed against current period interest income. Interest income generally is not recognized on specific impaired loans unless the likelihood of further loss is remote. Cash collections on such loans are applied as reductions of the loan principal balance and no interest income is recognized on those loans until the principal balance has been collected. Interest income on other nonaccrual loans is recognized only to the extent of interest payments received. The carrying value of impaired loans is based on the present value of the loan's expected future cash flows or, alternatively, the observable market price of the loan or the fair value of the collateral.

The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level believed to be adequate by management to absorb probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio and is based on the size and current risk characteristics of the loan portfolio, an assessment of individual problem loans and actual loss experience, the value of the underlying collateral, and current economic events in specific industries and geographical areas, including unemployment levels, and other pertinent factors, including regulatory guidance and general economic conditions. Determination of the allowance is inherently subjective, as it requires significant estimates, including the amounts and timing on historical loss experience, and consideration of current economic trends, all of which may be susceptible to significant change. Loan losses are charged off against the allowance, while recoveries of amounts previously charged off are credited to the allowance. A provision for credit losses is charged to operations based on management's periodic evaluation of the factors previously mentioned, as well as other pertinent factors. Evaluations are conducted at least monthly and more often if deemed necessary.

The allowance for credit losses typically consists of an allocated component and an unallocated component. The allocated component of the allowance for credit losses reflects expected losses resulting from analyses developed through specific credit allocations for individual loans and historical loss experience for each loan category.

The specific credit allocations are based on regular analyses of all loans over a fixed-dollar amount where the internal credit rating is at or below a predetermined classification. The historical loan loss element is determined statistically using an informal loss migration analysis that examines loss experience and the related internal gradings of loans charged off over a current 3 year period. The loss migration analysis is performed quarterly and loss factors are updated regularly based on actual experience. The allocated component of the allowance for credit losses also includes consideration of concentrations and changes in portfolio mix and volume.

Any unallocated portion of the allowance reflects management's estimate of probable inherent but undetected losses within the portfolio due to uncertainties in economic conditions, delays in obtaining information, including unfavorable information about a borrower's financial condition, the difficulty in identifying triggering events that correlate perfectly to subsequent loss rates, and risk factors that have not yet manifested themselves in loss allocation factors. The historical losses used in the migration analysis may not be representative of actual unrealized losses inherent in the portfolio. It is management's intent to continually refine the methodology for the allowance for credit losses in an attempt to directly allocate potential losses in the loan portfolio under ASC Topic 310 and minimize the unallocated portion of the allowance for credit losses.

Loan Charge-off Policies

Loans are generally fully or partially charged down to the fair value of securing collateral when:

●

management deems the asset to be uncollectible;

●

repayment is deemed to be made beyond the reasonable time frames;

Table of Contents

●

the asset has been classified as a loss by internal or external review; and

●

the borrower has filed bankruptcy and the loss becomes evident owing to a lack of assets.

Acquired Loans

Loans acquired in connection with business combinations are recorded at their acquisition-date fair value with no carry over of related allowance for credit losses. Any allowance for credit loss on these pools reflect only losses incurred after the acquisition (meaning the present value of all cash flows expected at acquisition that ultimately are not expected to be received). Determining the fair value of the acquired loans involves estimating the principal and interest cash flows expected to be collected on the loans and discounting those cash flows at a market rate of interest. Management considered a number of factors in evaluating the acquisition-date fair value including the remaining life of the acquired loans, delinquency status, estimated prepayments, payment options and other loan features, internal risk grade, estimated value of the underlying collateral and interest rate environment.

Acquired loans that meet the criteria for nonaccrual of interest prior to the acquisition may be considered performing upon acquisition, regardless of whether the customer is contractually delinquent, if we can reasonably estimate the timing and amount of the expected cash flows on such loans and if we expect to fully collect the new carrying value of the loans, including the impact of any accretable yield.

Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality are accounted for in accordance with ASC 310-30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality (ASC 310-30) if, at acquisition, the loans have evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination and it is probable that all contractually required payments will not be collected. At acquisition, the Company considered several factors as an indicator that an acquired loan had evidence of deterioration in credit quality. These factors include; loans 90 days or more past due, loans with an internal risk grade of substandard or below, loans classified as non-accrual by the acquired institution, and loans that have been previously modified in a troubled debt restructuring.

Under the ASC 310-30 model, the excess of cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition over recorded fair value is referred to as the accretable yield and is the interest component of expected cash flow. The accretable yield is recognized into income over the remaining life of the loan if the timing and/or amount of cash flows expected to be collected can be reasonably estimated (the accretion method). If the timing or amount of cash flows expected to be collected cannot be reasonably estimated, the cost recovery method of income recognition is used. The difference between the loan's total scheduled principal and interest payment over all cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition, considering the impact of prepayments, is referred to as the non-accretable difference. The non-accretable difference represents contractually required principal and interest payments which the Company does not expect to collect.

Over the life of the loan, management continues to estimate cash flows expected to be collected. Decreases in expected cash flows are recognized as impairments through a charge to the provision for credit losses resulting in an increase in the allowance for credit losses. Subsequent improvements in cash flows result in first, reversal of existing valuation allowances recognized subsequent to acquisition, if any, and next, an increase in the amount of accretable yield to be subsequently recognized as interest income on a prospective basis over the loan's remaining life.

Acquired loans that were not individually determined to be purchased with deteriorated credit quality are accounted for in accordance with ASC 310-20, Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (ASC 310-20), whereby the premium or discount derived from the fair market value adjustment, on a loan-by-loan or pooled basis, is recognized into interest income on a level yield basis over the remaining expected life of the loan or pool.

Table of Contents

Troubled Debt Restructurings

A loan is accounted for and reported as a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) when, for economic or legal reasons, we grant a concession to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty that we would not otherwise consider. Management strives to identify borrowers in financial difficulty early and works with them to modify to more affordable terms before their loan reaches nonaccrual status. These modified terms may include rate reductions, principal forgiveness, payment forbearance and other actions intended to minimize the economic loss and to avoid foreclosure or repossession of the collateral. A restructuring that results in only an insignificant delay in payment is not considered a concession. A delay may be considered insignificant if the payments subject to the delay are insignificant relative to the unpaid principal or collateral value and the contractual amount due, or the delay in timing of the restructured payment period is insignificant relative to the frequency of the payments, the debt’s original contractual maturity or original expected duration.

TDRs are designated as impaired loans because interest and principal payments will not be received in accordance with the original contract terms. TDRs that are performing and on accrual status as of the date of the modification remain on accrual status. TDRs that are nonperforming as of the date of modification generally remain as nonaccrual until the prospect of future payments in accordance with the modified loan agreement is reasonably assured, generally demonstrated when the borrower maintains compliance with the restructured terms for a predetermined period, normally at least six months. TDRs with temporary below-market concessions remain designated as a TDR and impaired regardless of the accrual or performance status until the loan is paid off. However, if the TDR loan has been modified in a subsequent restructure with market terms and the borrower is not currently experiencing financial difficulty, then the loan may be no longer designated as a TDR.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant disruption in economic activity worldwide, including in market areas served by the Company. Estimates for the allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2021 include probable losses related to the pandemic. The Company expects that the pandemic will continue to have an effect on its results of operations. If economic conditions deteriorate further, then additional provision for loan losses may be required in future periods. It is unknown how long these conditions will last and what the ultimate financial impact will be to the Company. Depending on the severity and duration of the economic consequences of the pandemic, the Company’s goodwill may become impaired.

The Company had accommodated certain borrowers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by granting short-term payment deferrals or periods of interest-only payments. As of September 30, 2021, all of the loan balances that were approved by the Company, on a consolidated basis, for loan payment deferrals or payments of interest only have either resumed regular payments or have been paid off. Generally, a short-term payment deferral does not result in a loan modification being classified as a TDR. Additionally, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), enacted on March 27, 2020, and as subsequently supplemented, provided that certain loan modifications that were (1) related to COVID-19 and (2) for loans that were not more than 30 days past due as of December 31, 2019 are not required to be designated as TDRs.

Loans Held for Sale:

These loans consist of loans made through Partners’ majority owned subsidiary Johnson Mortgage Company, LLC (“JMC”).

JMC is engaged in the mortgage brokerage business in which JMC originates, closes, and immediately sells mortgage loans and related servicing rights to permanent investors in the secondary market. JMC has written commitments from several permanent investors (large financial institutions) and only closes loans that meet the lending requirements of the permanent investors. Loans are made in connection with the purchase or refinancing of existing and new one-to-four family residences primarily in southeastern and northern Virginia. Loans are initially funded primarily by JMC’s lines of credit. With the concurrent sale and delivery of mortgage loans to the permanent investors, JMC records receivables for mortgage loans sold and recognizes the related gains and losses on such sales. The receivables for mortgage loans sold are usually satisfied within 30 days of sale, whereupon the related borrowings on the lines of credit are repaid. Because of the short holding period, these loans are carried at the lower of cost or market and no

Table of Contents

market adjustments were deemed necessary in the first three quarters of 2021 or during 2020. JMC’s agreements with its permanent investors include provisions that could require JMC to repurchase loans under certain circumstances, and also provide for the assessment of fees if loans go into default or are refinanced within specified periods of time. JMC has never been required to repurchase a loan and no allowance has been made as of September 30, 2021 or December 31, 2020 for possible repurchases. Management does not believe that a provision for early default or refinancing costs is necessary at September 30, 2021 or December 31, 2020.

JMC enters into commitments with its customers to originate loans where the interest rate on the loans is determined (locked) prior to funding. While this subjects JMC to the risk that interest rates may change from the commitment date to the funding date, JMC simultaneously enters into financial agreements (best efforts forward sales commitments) with its permanent investors giving JMC the right to deliver (put) loans to the investors at specified yields, thus enabling JMC to manage its exposure to changes in interest rates such that JMC is not subject to fluctuations in fair values of these agreements due to changes in interest rates. However, a default by a permanent investor required to purchase loans under such an agreement would expose JMC to potential fluctuation in selling prices of loans due to changes in interest rate. The fair value of rate lock commitments and forward sales commitments was considered immaterial at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 and an adjustment was not recorded. Gains and losses on the sale of mortgages as well as origination fees, brokerage fees, interest rate lock-in fees and other fees paid by mortgagors are included in Mortgage banking income on the Company’s consolidated statements of income.

Other Real Estate Owned (“OREO”):

OREO comprises properties acquired in partial or total satisfaction of problem loans. The properties are recorded at fair value at the date acquired. Losses arising at the time of acquisition of such properties are charged against the allowance for credit losses. Subsequent write-downs that may be required and expenses of operation are included in other expenses. Gains and losses realized from the sale of OREO are included in other expenses. At September 30, 2021 there were three properties with a combined estimated value of $1.3 million included in OREO and at December 31, 2020, there were five properties with a combined estimated value of $2.7 million included in OREO.

Intangible Assets and Amortization:

During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company acquired Partners and during the first quarter of 2018, the Company acquired Liberty Bell Bank (“Liberty”). ASC 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (“ASC 350”) prescribes accounting for intangible assets subsequent to initial recognition. Acquired intangible assets (such as core deposit intangibles) are separately recognized if the benefit of the assets can be sold, transferred, licensed, rented, or exchanged, and amortized over their useful lives. Intangible assets related to the acquisitions are amortized (See Note 13 – Goodwill and Intangible Assets for further information).

Goodwill

The Company’s goodwill was recognized in connection with the acquisitions of Partners and Liberty. The Company reviews the carrying value of goodwill at least annually or more frequently if certain impairment indicators exist. In testing goodwill for impairment, the Company may first consider qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances lead to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events and circumstances, we conclude that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then no further testing is required and the goodwill of the reporting unit is not impaired. If the Company elects to bypass the qualitative assessment or if we conclude that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the fair value of the reporting unit is compared with its carrying amount to determine whether an impairment exists.

Accounting for Stock Based Compensation:

The Company follows ASC 718-10, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718-10”) for accounting and reporting for stock-based compensation plans. ASC 718-10 defines a fair value at grant date to be used for measuring compensation expense for stock-based compensation plans to be recognized in the statement of income.

Table of Contents

Earnings Per Share:

Basic earnings per common share are determined by dividing net income and accretion of warrants by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for each period, giving retroactive effect to stock splits and dividends. Weighted average common shares outstanding were 17,788,472 and 17,758,074 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. Calculations of diluted earnings per common share include the average dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding during the period, unless they are anti-dilutive. Dilutive common equivalent shares consist of stock options calculated using the treasury stock method and restricted stock awards (See Note 9 – Earnings Per Share for further information).

Note 2. Investment Securities

Securities available for sale are as follows:


	September 30, 2021
	Dollars in Thousands
			Gross		Gross
	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
	Cost		Gains		Losses		Value
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and corporations	$	5,575	$	65	$	118	$	5,522
Obligations of States and political subdivisions		34,047		1,395		35		35,407
Mortgage-backed securities		72,700		421		540		72,581
Subordinated debt investments		1,990		52		2		2,040
	$	114,312	$	1,933	$	695	$	115,550


	December 31, 2020
	Dollars in Thousands
			Gross		Gross
	Amortized		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
	Cost		Gains		Losses		Value
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and corporations	$	6,758	$	137	$	12	$	6,883
Obligations of States and political subdivisions		36,245		1,878		—		38,123
Mortgage-backed securities		74,857		1,127		108		75,876
Subordinated debt investments		3,985		62		4		4,043
	$	121,845	$	3,204	$	124	$	124,925

Gross unrealized losses and fair values, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, are as follows:


	September 30, 2021
	Dollars in Thousands
	Less than 12 months				12 months or more				Total
	Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized
	Value		Loss		Value		Loss		Value		Loss
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and corporations	$	2,233	$	91	$	1,473	$	27	$	3,706	$	118
Obligations of States and political subdivisions		1,252		35		—		—		1,252		35
Mortgage-backed securities		50,226		502		2,613		38		52,839		540
Subordinated debt investments		498		2		—		—		498		2
Total securities with unrealized losses	$	54,209	$	630	$	4,086	$	65	$	58,295	$	695

Table of Contents


	December 31, 2020
	Dollars in Thousands
	Less than 12 months				12 months or more				Total
	Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized		Fair		Unrealized
	Value		Loss		Value		Loss		Value		Loss
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and corporations	$	2,494	$	12	$	—	$	—	$	2,494	$	12
Obligations of States and political subdivisions		—		—		—		—		—		—
Mortgage-backed securities		18,525		108		—		—		18,525		108
Subordinated debt investments		996		4		—		—		996		4
Total securities with unrealized losses	$	22,015	$	124	$	—	$	—	$	22,015	$	124

For individual securities classified as either available for sale or held to maturity, the Company must determine whether a decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis is other than temporary. In estimating OTTI losses, management considers, among other things, (i) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (ii) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and (iii) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. If the decline in fair value is considered to be other than temporary, the cost basis of the individual security shall be written down to the fair value as a new cost basis and the amount of the write-down shall be included in earnings (that is, accounted for as a realized loss).

At September 30, 2021 there were sixteen mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), three agency investments, one subordinated debt investment and four municipal securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than twelve months. At September 30, 2021 there was one MBS security and one agency security that had been in a continuous unrealized loss position for more than twelve months. Management found no evidence of OTTI on any of these securities and believes that unrealized losses are due to fluctuations in fair values resulting from changes in market interest rates and are considered temporary. As of September 30, 2021, management also believes it has the ability and intent to hold the securities for a period of time sufficient for a recovery of cost.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 the Company sold four and fourteen securities, respectively, resulting in a gain of $3 thousand and $17 thousand, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company sold ten securities, resulting in a gain of $401 thousand. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, three and ten securities were either matured or called, respectively, resulting in a gain of $0 and $5 thousand, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, fourteen securities were either matured or called, resulting in a net gain of $167 thousand for both periods.

The Company has pledged certain securities as collateral for qualified customers’ deposit accounts at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. The amortized cost and fair value of these pledged securities was $11.2 million and $11.6 million, respectively, at September 30, 2021. The amortized cost and fair value of these pledged securities was $8.9 million and $9.3 million, respectively, at December 31, 2020.

Contractual maturities of investment securities at September 30, 2021 are shown below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because debtors may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. MBS have no stated maturity and primarily reflect investments in various Pass-through and Participation Certificates issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Government National Mortgage Association. Repayment of MBS is affected by the contractual repayment terms of the underlying mortgages collateralizing these obligations and the current level of interest rates.

Table of Contents

The following is a summary of maturities, calls, or repricing of securities available for sale:


	September 30, 2021
	Securities Available for Sale
	Dollars in Thousands
		Amortized		Fair
		Cost		Value
Due in one year or less	$	—	$	—
Due after one year through five years		2,719		2,913
Due after five years through ten years		19,865		20,415
Due after ten years or more		19,028		19,641
Mortgage-backed securities, due in monthly installments		72,700		72,581
	$	114,312	$	115,550

Note 3. Loans, Allowance for Credit Losses and Impaired Loans

Major categories of loans as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 are as follows:


(Dollars in thousands)	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Originated Loans
Real Estate Mortgage
Construction and land development	$	102,550	$	71,361
Residential real estate		159,243		128,285
Nonresidential		477,229		394,539
Home equity loans		21,433		18,526
Commercial		108,953		115,387
Consumer and other loans		3,708		2,924
		873,116		731,022
Acquired Loans
Real Estate Mortgage
Construction and land development	$	583	$	3,345
Residential real estate		50,653		71,064
Nonresidential		141,048		175,206
Home equity loans		12,067		15,700
Commercial		26,662		37,411
Consumer and other loans		1,071		1,757
		232,084		304,483
Total Loans
Real Estate Mortgage
Construction and land development	$	103,133	$	74,706
Residential real estate		209,896		199,349
Nonresidential		618,277		569,745
Home equity loans		33,500		34,226
Commercial		135,615		152,798
Consumer and other loans		4,779		4,681
		1,105,200		1,035,505
Less: Allowance for credit losses		(15,031)		(13,203)
	$	1,090,169	$	1,022,302

Table of Contents

Allowance for Credit Losses

Management has an established methodology to determine the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses that assesses the risks and losses inherent in the loan portfolio. For purposes of determining the allowance for credit losses, the Company has segmented the loan portfolio into the following classifications:

●

Real Estate Mortgage (which includes Construction and Land Development, Residential Real Estate, Nonresidential Real Estate and Home Equity Loans)

●

Commercial

●

Consumer and other loans

Each of these segments are reviewed and analyzed quarterly using historical charge-off experience for their respective segments as well as the following qualitative factors:

●

Changes in the levels and trends in delinquencies, non-accruals, classified assets and TDRs

●

Changes in the value of underlying collateral

●

Changes in the nature and volume of the portfolio

●

Effects of any changes in lending policies, procedures, including underwriting standards and collections, charge off and recovery practices

●

Changes in the experience, depth and ability of management

●

Changes in the national and local economic conditions and developments, including the condition of various market segments

●

Changes in the concentration of credits within each pool

●

Changes in the quality of the Company’s loan review system and the degree of oversight by the Company’s Board of Directors

●

Changes in external factors such as competition and the legal environment.

The above factors result in a FASB ASC 450-10- 20 calculated reserve for environmental factors.

All credit exposures graded at a rating of “non-pass” with outstanding balances less than or equal to $250 thousand and credit exposures graded at a rating of “pass” are reviewed and analyzed quarterly using historical charge-off experience for their respective segments as well as the qualitative factors discussed above. The historical charge-off experience is further adjusted based on delinquency risk trend assessments and concentration risk assessments.

All credit exposures graded at a rating of “non-pass” with outstanding balances greater than $250 thousand and all credit exposures classified as TDR’s are to be reviewed no less than quarterly for the purpose of determining if a specific allocation is needed for that credit. The determination for a specific reserve is measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows, discounted at the loan's effective interest rate, except when the sole (remaining) source of repayment for the loan is the operation or liquidation of the collateral. In these cases management uses the current fair value of the collateral, less selling cost when foreclosure is probable, instead of discounted cash flows. If management determines that the value of the loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan (net of previous charge-offs, deferred loan fees or costs and unamortized premium or discount), impairment is recognized through an allowance for credit losses estimate or a charge-off to the allowance for credit losses.

Table of Contents

The establishment of a specific reserve does not necessarily mean that the credit with the specific reserve will definitely incur loss at the reserve level. It is only an estimation of the potential loss based upon anticipated events. A specific reserve will not be established unless loss elements can be determined and quantified based on known facts. The total allowance reflects management's estimate of credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020.

The following tables include impairment information relating to loans and the allowance for credit losses as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020:


	Real Estate Mortgage
	Construction
	and Land		Residential								Consumer
Dollars in Thousands	Development		Real Estate		Nonresidential		Home Equity		Commercial		and Other		Unallocated		Total
Balance at September 30, 2021
Purchased credit impaired loans
Balance in allowance	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	41	$	—	$	—	$	41
Related loan balance		45		1,652		1,896		—		160		—		—		3,753
Individually evaluated for impairment:
Balance in allowance	$	—	$	89	$	1,239	$	—	$	459	$	—	$	—	$	1,787
Related loan balance		598		2,332		7,427		52		595		—		—		11,004
Collectively evaluated for impairment:
Balance in allowance	$	1,126	$	2,062	$	7,842	$	268	$	1,401	$	37	$	467	$	13,203
Related loan balance		102,490		205,912		608,954		33,448		134,860		4,779		—		1,090,443

Note: The balances above include unamortized discounts on acquired loans of $2.7 million.


	Real Estate Mortgage
	Construction
	and Land		Residential								Consumer
Dollars in Thousands	Development		Real Estate		Nonresidential		Home Equity		Commercial		and Other		Unallocated		Total
Balance at December 31, 2020
Purchased credit impaired loans
Balance in allowance	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	41	$	—	$	—	$	41
Related loan balance		44		1,839		2,237		—		361		—		—		4,481
Individually evaluated for impairment:
Balance in allowance	$	—	$	156	$	17	$	—	$	500	$	—	$	—	$	673
Related loan balance		175		2,947		6,990		—		489		—		—		10,601
Collectively evaluated for impairment:
Balance in allowance	$	903	$	2,195	$	7,567	$	271	$	1,402	$	37	$	114	$	12,489
Related loan balance		74,487		194,563		560,518		34,226		151,948		4,681		—		1,020,423

Note: The balances above include unamortized discounts on acquired loans of $4.0 million.

Table of Contents

The following tables provide a summary of the activity in the allowance for credit losses allocated by loan class for three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020. Allocation of a portion of the allowance to one loan class does not preclude its availability to absorb losses in other loan classes.


	September 30, 2021
	Real Estate Mortgage
	Construction
	and Land		Residential								Consumer
Dollars in Thousands	Development		Real Estate		Nonresidential		Home Equity		Commercial		and Other		Unallocated		Total
Quarter Ended
Beginning Balance	$	1,038	$	2,206	$	8,654	$	228	$	1,803	$	32	$	1,348	$	15,309
Charge-offs		—		(11)		(138)		—		(91)		(23)		—		(263)
Recoveries		—		6		—		—		2		7		—		15
Provision/(recovery)		88		(50)		565		40		187		21		(881)		(30)
Ending Balance	$	1,126	$	2,151	$	9,081	$	268	$	1,901	$	37	$	467	$	15,031
Nine Months Ended
Beginning Balance	$	903	$	2,351	$	7,584	$	271	$	1,943	$	37	$	114	$	13,203
Charge-offs		—		(39)		(570)		(6)		(185)		(46)		—		(846)
Recoveries		1		22		53		—		11		19		—		106
Provision/(recovery)		222		(183)		2,014		3		132		27		353		2,568
Ending Balance	$	1,126	$	2,151	$	9,081	$	268	$	1,901	$	37	$	467	$	15,031


	December 31, 2020
	Real Estate Mortgage
	Construction
	and Land		Residential								Consumer
Dollars in Thousands	Development		Real Estate		Nonresidential		Home Equity		Commercial		and Other		Unallocated		Total
Year Ended
Beginning Balance	$	602	$	1,380	$	4,074	$	142	$	826	$	14	$	266	$	7,304
Charge-offs		—		(112)		(575)		(13)		(918)		(120)		—		(1,738)
Recoveries		1		70		512		10		109		41		—		743
Provision		300		1,013		3,573		132		1,926		102		(152)		6,894
Ending Balance	$	903	$	2,351	$	7,584	$	271	$	1,943	$	37	$	114	$	13,203

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was signed into law, which established the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and allocated $349.0 billion of loans to be issued by financial institutions. Under the PPP, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) will forgive loans, in whole or in part, made by approved lenders to eligible borrowers for Paycheck and other permitted purposes in accordance with the requirements of the PPP. These loans carry a fixed rate of 1.00% and a term of two years, if not forgiven, in whole or in part. The loans are 100% guaranteed by the SBA and payments are deferred for the first six months of the loan. The Bank receives a processing fee ranging from 1% to 5% based on the size of the loan from the SBA. In April 2020, the PPP was established and the Health Care Enhancement Act was signed into law and authorized additional funding of $310.0 billion for PPP loans. In December 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 (“CAA”) was passed, which extended the PPP and allocated additional funds for 2021. The Company has provided $95.1 million in funding to over 1,100 customers through the PPP as of September 30, 2021. Because these loans are 100% guaranteed by the SBA and did not undergo the Bank’s typical underwriting process, they are not graded and do not have an associated reserve at this time. At September 30, 2021, the Company had $13.7 million of PPP loans outstanding, net of fees, included in commercial loan balances.

Credit Quality Information

The following tables represent credit exposures by creditworthiness category at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. The use of creditworthiness categories to grade loans permits management to estimate a portion of credit risk. The Company’s internal creditworthiness is based on experience with similarly graded credits. The Company uses the definitions below for categorizing and managing its criticized loans. Loans categorized as “Pass” do not meet the criteria set forth below and are not considered criticized.

Table of Contents

Marginal — Loans in this category are presently protected from loss, but weaknesses are apparent which, if not corrected, could cause future problems. Loans in this category may not meet required underwriting criteria and have no mitigating factors. More than the ordinary amount of attention is warranted for these loans.

Substandard — Loans in this category exhibit well-defined weaknesses that would typically bring normal repayment into jeopardy. These loans are no longer adequately protected due to well-defined weaknesses that affect the repayment capacity of the borrower. The possibility of loss is much more evident and above average supervision is required for these loans.

Doubtful — Loans in this category have all the weaknesses inherent in a loan categorized as Substandard, with the characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable.

Loss — Loans in this category are of little value and are not warranted as a bankable asset.

Non-accruals

In general, a loan will be placed on non-accrual status at the end of the reporting month in which the interest or principal is past due more than 90 days. Exceptions to the policy are those loans that are in the process of collection and are well-secured. A well-secured loan is secured by collateral with sufficient market value to repay principal and all accrued interest.

A summary of loans by risk rating is as follows:


	Real Estate Secured
	Construction &
	Land		Residential								Consumer &
September 30, 2021	Development		Real Estate		Nonresidential		Home Equity		Commercial		Other		Total

	Dollars in Thousands
Pass	$	102,490	$	207,180	$	597,275	$	32,732	$	133,341	$	4,252	$	1,077,270
Marginal		45		508		16,598		684		1,679		527		20,041
Substandard		598		2,208		4,404		84		595		—		7,889
TOTAL	$	103,133	$	209,896	$	618,277	$	33,500	$	135,615	$	4,779	$	1,105,200
Non-Accrual	$	598	$	1,533	$	4,131	$	32	$	463	$	—	$	6,757


	Real Estate Secured
	Construction &
	Land		Residential								Consumer &
December 31, 2020	Development		Real Estate		Nonresidential		Home Equity		Commercial		Other		Total

	Dollars in Thousands
Pass	$	74,487	$	195,599	$	552,758	$	33,479	$	151,779	$	4,681	$	1,012,783
Marginal		44		575		12,542		693		420		—		14,274
Substandard		175		3,175		4,445		54		599		—		8,448
TOTAL	$	74,706	$	199,349	$	569,745	$	34,226	$	152,798	$	4,681	$	1,035,505
Non-Accrual	$	175	$	2,022	$	2,170	$	54	$	489	$	—	$	4,910

Table of Contents

A summary of loans that were modified under the terms of a TDR for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is shown below by class. The post-modification recorded balance reflects the period end balances, inclusive of any interest capitalized to principal, partial principal pay-downs, and principal charge-offs since the modification date. Loans modified as TDRs that were fully paid down, charged off, or foreclosed upon by period end are not reported.


	Real Estate Secured
	Construction &
	Land		Residential								Consumer &
	Development		Real Estate		Nonresidential		Home Equity		Commercial		Other		Total

	Dollars in Thousands
Three months ended September 30, 2021
Number of loans modified during the period		—		—		1		—		—		—		1
Pre-modification recorded balance	$	—	$	—	$	2,919	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	2,919
Post- modification recorded balance		—		—		2,907		—		—		—		2,907
Nine months ended September 30, 2021
Number of loans modified during the period		—		—		2		—		—		—		2
Pre-modification recorded balance	$	—	$	—	$	3,197	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	3,197
Post- modification recorded balance		—		—		2,907		—		—		—		2,907

Three months ended September 30, 2020
Number of loans modified during the period		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
Pre-modification recorded balance	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Post- modification recorded balance		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
Nine months ended September 30, 2020
Number of loans modified during the period		—		—		—		—		1		—		1
Pre-modification recorded balance	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	1,196	$	—	$	1,196
Post- modification recorded balance		—		—		—		—		489		—		489

During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, there were no loans modified as TDRs that subsequently defaulted during the period ended September 30, 2021 which had been modified as TDRs during the twelve months prior to default. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, there was one loan modified as a TDR that subsequently defaulted which had been modified as a TDR during the twelve months prior to default. This loan had a balance of $1.2 million prior to charge-offs of $707 thousand.

Table of Contents

There was one loan secured by 1-4 family residential properties with a balance of $266 thousand that was in the process of foreclosure at September 30, 2021. There were two loans secured by 1-4 family residential properties with aggregate balances of $353 thousand that were in the process of foreclosure at December 31, 2020.

The following tables include an aging analysis of the recorded investment of past due financing receivables as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020:


													Recorded
													Investment
					Greater than						Total		>90 Days
	30 - 59 Days		60 - 89 Days		90 Days		Total		Current		Financing		Past Due
At September 30, 2021	Past Due*		Past Due**		Past Due***		Past Due		Balance****		Receivables		and Accruing

	Dollars in Thousands
Real Estate
Construction and land development	$	—	$	—	$	598	$	598	$	102,535	$	103,133	$	—
Residential real estate		184		79		504		767		209,129		209,896		—
Nonresidential		1,585		2,652		534		4,771		613,506		618,277		—
Home equity loans		30		32		—		62		33,438		33,500		—
Commercial		—		—		77		77		135,538		135,615		—
Consumer and other loans		4		—		—		4		4,775		4,779		—
TOTAL	$	1,803	$	2,763	$	1,713	$	6,279	$	1,098,921	$	1,105,200	$	—

* Includes $39 thousand of non-accrual loans.

** Includes $111 thousand of non-accrual loans.

*** Includes $1.7 million of non-accrual loans.

****Includes $4.9 million of non-accrual loans.


													Recorded
													Investment
					Greater than						Total		>90 Days
	30 - 59 Days		60 - 89 Days		90 Days		Total		Current		Financing		Past Due
At December 31, 2020	Past Due*		Past Due**		Past Due***		Past Due		Balance****		Receivables		and Accruing

	Dollars in Thousands
Real Estate
Construction and land development	$	642	$	66	$	175	$	883	$	73,823	$	74,706	$	—
Residential real estate		2,520		244		679		3,443		195,906		199,349		—
Nonresidential		2,552		1,240		2,377		6,169		563,576		569,745		—
Home equity loans		80		—		54		134		34,092		34,226		—
Commercial		86		169		489		744		152,054		152,798		—
Consumer and other loans		7		—		2		9		4,672		4,681		2
TOTAL	$	5,887	$	1,719	$	3,776	$	11,382	$	1,024,123	$	1,035,505	$	2

* Includes $683 thousand of non-accrual loans.

** Includes $227 thousand of non-accrual loans.

*** Includes $3.5 million of non-accrual loans.

****Includes $458 thousand of non-accrual loans.

Table of Contents

Impaired Loans

Impaired loans are defined as non-accrual loans, TDRs, purchased credit impaired loans (“PCI”) and loans risk rated substandard or above. When management identifies a loan as impaired, the impairment is measured for potential loss based on the present value of expected future cash flows, discounted at the loan's effective interest rate, except when the sole (remaining) source of repayment for the loan is the operation or liquidation of the collateral. In these cases management uses the current fair value of the collateral, less selling cost when foreclosure is probable, instead of discounted cash flows. If management determines that the value of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan (net of previous charge-offs, deferred loan fees or costs and unamortized premium or discount), impairment is recognized through an allowance estimate or a charge-off to the allowance.

When the ultimate collectability of the total principal of an impaired loan is in doubt and the loan is on non-accrual status, all payments are applied to principal, under the cost recovery method. When the ultimate collectability of the total principal of an impaired loan is not in doubt and the loan is on non-accrual status, contractual interest is credited to interest income when received, under the cash basis method.

The following tables include the recorded investment and unpaid principal balances for impaired financing receivables, excluding purchased credit impaired, with the associated allowance amount, if applicable. Also presented are the average recorded investments in the impaired loans and the related amount of interest recognized during the time within the period that the impaired loans were impaired.


			Unpaid		Interest				Average
	Recorded		Principal		Income		Specific		Recorded
September 30, 2021	Investment		Balance		Recognized		Reserve		Investment

	Dollars in Thousands
Impaired loans with specific reserves:
Real Estate Mortgage
Construction and land development	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Residential real estate		430		430		15		89		435
Nonresidential		5,863		5,863		202		1,239		5,886
Home equity loans		—		—		—		—		—
Commercial		518		528		108		459		590
Consumer and other loans		—		—		—		—		—
Total impaired loans with specific reserves	$	6,811	$	6,821	$	325	$	1,787	$	6,911
Impaired loans with no specific reserve:
Real Estate Mortgage
Construction and land development	$	598	$	598	$	13	$	—	$	599
Residential real estate		1,902		1,941		27		—		1,932
Nonresidential		1,564		1,561		354		—		1,587
Home equity loans		52		52		—		—		53
Commercial		77		154		2		—		120
Consumer and other loans		—		—		—		—		—
Total impaired loans with no specific reserve	$	4,193	$	4,306	$	396	$	—	$	4,291
TOTAL	$	11,004	$	11,127	$	721	$	1,787	$	11,202

Total impaired loans of $11.0 million at September 30, 2021 do not include PCI loan balances of $3.8 million, which are net of a discount of $426,000.

Table of Contents


			Unpaid		Interest				Average
	Recorded		Principal		Income		Specific		Recorded
December 31, 2020	Investment		Balance		Recognized		Reserve		Investment

	Dollars in Thousands
Impaired loans with specific reserves:
Real Estate Mortgage
Construction and land development	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Residential real estate		614		614		—		156		671
Nonresidential		2,151		2,151		259		17		2,304
Home equity loans		—		—		—		—		—
Commercial		489		1,196		11		500		881
Consumer and other loans		—		—		—		—		—
Total impaired loans with specific reserves	$	3,254	$	3,961	$	270	$	673	$	3,856
Impaired loans with no specific reserve:
Real Estate Mortgage
Construction and land development	$	175	$	175	$	—	$	—	$	176
Residential real estate		2,333		2,425		107		—		2,365
Nonresidential		4,839		5,260		174		—		5,944
Home equity loans		—		—		—		—		—
Commercial		—		—		—		—		—
Consumer and other loans		—		—		—		—		—
Total impaired loans with no specific reserve	$	7,347	$	7,860	$	281	$	—	$	8,485
TOTAL	$	10,601	$	11,821	$	551	$	673	$	12,341

Total impaired loans of $10.6 million at December 31, 2020 do not include PCI loan balances of $4.5 million, which are net of a discount of $644 thousand.

All acquired loans were initially recorded at fair value at the acquisition date. The outstanding balance and the carrying amount of acquired loans included in the consolidated balance sheets are as follows:


Dollars in Thousands	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Accountable for under ASC 310-30 (PCI loans)
Outstanding balance	$	4,179	$	5,125
Carrying amount		3,753		4,481
Accountable for under ASC 310-20 (non-PCI loans)
Outstanding balance	$	230,565	$	303,363
Carrying amount		228,331		300,002
Total acquired loans
Outstanding balance	$	234,744	$	308,488
Carrying amount		232,084		304,483

The following table provides changes in accretable yield for all acquired loans accounted for under ASC 310-20:


Dollars in Thousands	September 30, 2021		December 31, 2020
Balance at beginning of period	$	3,361	$	5,081
Acquisitions		—		(1)
Accretion		(1,126)		(1,718)
Other changes, net		(1)		(1)
Balance at end of period	$	2,234	$	3,361

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recorded $9 thousand and $23 thousand, respectively, in accretion on acquired loans accounted for under ASC 310-30. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded $54 thousand and $180 thousand, respectively, in accretion on acquired loans accounted for under ASC 310-30.

Non-accretable yield on PCI loans was $1.4 million and $1.6 million at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

Table of Contents

Concentration of Risk:

The Company makes loans to customers located primarily within Anne Arundel, Charles, Calvert, St. Mary’s, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties, Maryland; Sussex County, Delaware; Camden and Burlington Counties, New Jersey; Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline Counties, Virginia; and the Cities of Fredericksburg and Reston, Virginia. A substantial portion of its loan portfolio consists of residential and commercial real estate mortgages. The ability of the Company’s debtors to honor their contracts is dependent upon the real estate and general economic conditions in these areas.

The Company had no commitments to loan additional funds to the borrowers of restructured, impaired, or non-accrual loans as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020.

Note 4. Borrowings and Notes Payable

The Company owns capital stock of the FHLB as a condition for a $401.8 million convertible advance credit facility from the FHLB. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had remaining credit availability of $375.3 million under this facility.

The following table details the advances the Company had outstanding with the FHLB at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 and outstanding lines of credit:


		September 30, 2021
Dollars in Thousands		Outstanding Balance	Interest Rate		Maturity Date	Interest Payment
Fixed rate hybrid	$	5,000	3.15	%	October 2022	Fixed, paid monthly
Principal reducing credit		643	1.62	%	March 2023	Fixed, paid quarterly
Fixed rate hybrid		9,900	1.29	%	March 2024	Fixed, paid quarterly
Fixed rate hybrid		9,900	1.29	%	March 2024	Fixed, paid quarterly
Principal reducing credit		1,035	1.99	%	March 2026	Fixed, paid quarterly
Total advances	$	26,478


		December 31, 2020
Dollars in Thousands		Outstanding Balance	Interest Rate		Maturity Date	Interest Payment
Fixed rate hybrid	$	6,000	2.44	%	April 2021	Fixed, paid quarterly
Fixed rate hybrid		5,000	3.15	%	October 2022	Fixed, paid monthly
Principal reducing credit		964	1.62	%	March 2023	Fixed, paid quarterly
Fixed rate hybrid		9,900	1.29	%	March 2024	Fixed, paid quarterly
Fixed rate hybrid		9,900	1.29	%	March 2024	Fixed, paid quarterly
Principal reducing credit		1,208	1.99	%	March 2026	Fixed, paid quarterly
Total advances	$	32,972

The Company did not have any short-term borrowings from the FHLB for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and average short-term borrowings from FHLB approximated $24.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Borrowings from the FHLB are considered short-term if they have an original maturity of less than a year.

The Company has pledged a portion of its residential and commercial mortgage loan portfolio as collateral for these credit facilities. Principal balances outstanding on these pledged loans totaled approximately $188.0 million and $178.6 million at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

Table of Contents

In addition to the FHLB credit facility, in October 2015, the Company entered into a subordinated loan agreement for an aggregate principal amount of $2.0 million, net of issuance costs. Interest-only payments were due quarterly at 6.710% per annum, and the outstanding principal balance would have matured in October 2025. During July 2021, the prepayment provisions in the agreement were exercised, and the principal balance and any remaining accrued interest of this subordinated debt were paid in full. In January 2018, the Company entered into a subordinated loan agreement for an aggregate principal amount of $4.5 million to fund the acquisition of Liberty Bell Bank, net of loan costs. Interest-only payments are due quarterly at 6.875% per annum, and the outstanding principal balance matures in April 2028. In June 2020, the Company entered into a subordinated loan agreement for an aggregate principal amount of $17.6 million, net of issuance costs, to provide capital to support organic growth or growth through strategic acquisitions and capital expenditures. The notes will initially bear interest at 6.000% per annum, beginning June 25, 2020 to but excluding July 1, 2025, payable semi-annually in arrears. From and including July 1, 2025 to but excluding July 1, 2030, or an earlier redemption date, the interest rate shall reset quarterly to an interest rate per annum equal to the then current three-month SOFR plus 590 basis points, payable quarterly in arrears. Beginning on July 1, 2025 through maturity, the notes may be redeemed, at the Company’s option, on any scheduled interest payment date. The notes will mature on July 1, 2030. The notes are subject to customary representations, warranties and covenants made by the Company and the purchasers.

Partners owns a one-half undivided interest in 410 William Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia. Partners purchased a one-half interest in the land for cash, plus additional settlement costs, and assumption of one-half of the remaining deed of trust loan on December 14, 2012. Partners indemnified the personal guarantors of the deed of trust loan in the amount of $886 thousand, which was one-half of the outstanding balance of the loan as of the purchase date. Partners has a remaining obligation under the note payable of $661 thousand as of September 30, 2021. This note is carried on the balance sheet net of a discount of $21 thousand. The loan was refinanced on April 30, 2015 with a twenty-five year amortization. The interest rate is fixed at 3.60% for the first 10 years, and then becomes a variable rate of 3.0% plus the 10 year Treasury rate until maturity.

The Company provides JMC a warehouse line of credit, which is eliminated in consolidation. In addition, JMC has a warehouse line of credit with another financial institution in the amount of $3.0 million. The interest rate is the weekly average of the one month LIBOR plus 2.250%, rounded to the nearest 0.125% (2.750% at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020). The rate is subject to change the first of every month. Amounts borrowed are collateralized by a security interest in the mortgage loans financed under the line and are payable upon demand. The warehouse line of credit is set to renew or mature on November 30, 2021. The balance outstanding at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 was $0 and $142 thousand, respectively. Interest expense on the warehouse lines of credit was $21 thousand and $77 thousand during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021.

During the second quarter of 2020, in connection with the loans originated as part of the PPP, the Company borrowed under the Federal Reserve’s Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility (“PPPLF”). Under the terms of the PPPLF, the Company can borrow funds which are secured by the Company’s PPP loans. As of September 30, 2021, the Company did not have any outstanding advances under the PPPLF. At December 31, 2020, the Company had outstanding advances under the PPPLF of $41.6 million.

The proceeds of these long-term borrowings were generally used to purchase higher yielding investment securities, fund additional loans, redeem preferred stock, or fund acquisitions. Additionally, the Company has secured credit availability of $5.0 million with a correspondent bank and unsecured credit availability of $87.0 million with several other correspondent banks for short-term liquidity needs, if necessary. The secured facility must be collateralized by specific securities at the time of any usage. At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there were no borrowings outstanding under these credit agreements.

The Company has pledged investment securities available for sale with an amortized cost and fair value of $3.9 million with the FRB to secure Discount Window borrowings at September 30, 2021. The combined amortized cost and fair value of these pledged investment securities were $2.3 million and $2.4 million, respectively, at December 31, 2020. At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 there were no outstanding borrowings under these facilities.

Table of Contents

Maturities on debt are as follows (dollars in thousands):


2021	$	158
2022		5,634
2023		314
2024		20,008
2025		210
Thereafter		22,951
	$	49,275

Note 5. Lease Commitments

The Company leases nineteen locations for administrative offices and branch locations. Seventeen leases were classified as operating leases and two as finance leases. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less as well as leases with a discounted present value of future cash flows below $25 thousand are not recorded on the balance sheet and the related lease expense is recognized over the lease term. The Company elected to use the practical expedient to not recognize short-term leases on the consolidated balance sheet and instead account for them as executory contracts.

Certain leases include options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term, typically for five years. Lease assets and liabilities include related options that are reasonably certain of being exercised. The Company has determined that it will place a limit on exercises of available lease renewal options that would extend the lease term up to a maximum of fifteen years, including the initial term. The depreciable life of leased assets are limited by the expected lease term.

The following tables present information about the Company’s leases for the periods ended:


Dollars in Thousands	September 30, 2021			December 31, 2020
Balance Sheet
Operating Lease Amounts
Right-of-use asset	$	6,726		$	3,983
Lease liability		7,053			4,301
Finance Lease Amounts
Right-of-use asset	$	1,721		$	1,824
Lease liability		2,155			2,242

Supplemental balance sheet information
Weighted average lease term - Operating Leases (Yrs.)		8.46			8.00
Weighted average lease term - Finance Leases (Yrs.)		12.34			13.09
Weighted average discount rate - Operating Leases (1)		2.33	%		2.74	%
Weighted average discount rate - Finance Leases (1)		2.84	%		2.84	%

Income Statement
Three Months Ended	September 30, 2021			September 30, 2020
Operating lease cost classified as premises and equipment	$	252		$	223
Finance lease cost classified as interest on borrowings		15			22
Nine Months Ended
Operating lease cost classified as premises and equipment	$	691		$	457
Finance lease cost classified as interest on borrowings		47			33

Operating outgoing cash flows from operating leases	$	643		$	433
Operating outgoing cash flows from finance leases	$	134		$	89

Table of Contents

(1)	The discount rate was developed by using the fixed rate credit advance borrowing rate at the FHLB of Atlanta for a term correlating to the remaining life of each lease. Management believes this rate closely mirrors its incremental borrowing rate for similar terms.

Minimum lease payments at September 30, 2021, for the next five years and thereafter, assuming renewal options are exercised, are approximately as follows:


	Dollars in Thousands
Operating Leases:
One year or less	$	1,031
One to three years		1,934
Three to five years		1,445
Over 5 years		3,555
Total undiscounted cash flows		7,965
Less: Discount		(912)
Lease Liabilities	$	7,053

Finance Leases:
One year or less	$	178
One to three years		376
Three to five years		406
Over 5 years		1,620
Total undiscounted cash flows		2,580
Less: Discount		(425)
Lease Liabilities	$	2,155

Note 6. Stock Option Plans

Partners Bancorp Stock Option Plan

The Company had employee and director stock option plans and had reserved shares of stock for issuance thereunder. Options granted under these plans had a ten-year life with a four-year vesting period that began one year after date of grant, and were exercisable at a price equal to the fair value of the Company’s stock on the date of the grant. Each award from all plans was evidenced by an award agreement that specifies the option price, the duration of the option, the number of shares to which the option pertains, and such other provisions as the grantor determines. The plan term ended in 2014, therefore no new options can be granted. All remaining stock options expired during the second quarter of 2019.

Liberty Bell Bank Stock Option Plans

In 2004, Liberty adopted the 2004 Incentive Stock Option Plan and the 2004 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, which were stock-based incentive compensation plans (the “Liberty Plans”). In February 2014, the Liberty Plans expired pursuant to their terms. Options under these plans had a 10 year life and vested over 5 years. Remaining options under the Liberty Plans became fully vested with the approval by the board of directors of Liberty signing the Agreement of Merger with the Company in July 2017 (the “Liberty Merger”). In accordance with the terms of the Agreement of Merger between the Company and Liberty, the Liberty Plans were assumed by the Company, and the options were converted into and became an option to purchase an adjusted number of shares of the common stock of the Company at an adjusted exercise price per share. The number of shares was determined by multiplying the number of shares of Liberty common stock for which the option was exercisable by the number of shares of the Company’s common stock into which shares of Liberty common stock were convertible in the Liberty Merger, which was 0.2857 (the “Liberty Conversion Ratio”), rounded to the next lower whole share. The exercise price was determined by dividing the exercise price per share of Liberty common stock by the Liberty Conversion Ratio, rounded up to the nearest cent. At the

Table of Contents

effective time of the Liberty Merger there were 48,225 options outstanding at an exercise price of $1.18. These shares were converted to 13,771 options outstanding at an exercise price of $4.14.

A summary of stock option transactions with respect to such options for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 is as follows:


	September 30, 2021
				Weighted
			Weighted	Average
			Average	Remaining
			Exercise	Contractual		Intrinsic
	Shares		Price	Life		Value
Outstanding at beginning of period	7,681	$	4.14	2.23
Granted	—		—	—
Exercised	—		—	—
Forfeited	—		—	—
Outstanding at end of period	7,681	$	4.14	1.48	$	31,723

Options exercisable at September 30, 2021	7,681	$	4.14

Virginia Partners Bank Stock Option Plan

In 2015 Virginia Partners Bank adopted the 2015 Stock Option Plan (the “2015 Partners Plan”), which allowed both incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options to be granted. The exercise price of each stock option equaled the market price of Partners' common stock on the date of grant and a stock option’s maximum term was 10 years. Stock options granted in the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 vested over 3 years. Partners previous stock compensation plan (the “2008 Partners Plan”) provided for the grant of share based awards in the form of incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options to Partners’ directors, officers and employees. In April 2015, the 2008 Partners Plan was terminated and replaced with the 2015 Partners Plan. Stock options outstanding prior to April 2015 were granted under the 2008 Partners Plan and became subject to the provisions of the 2015 Partners Plan. The 2008 Partners Plan also provided for stock options to be granted to seed investors as a reward for the contribution to organizational funds which were at risk if Partners’ organization had not been successful. Under the 2008 Partners Plan, Partners granted stock options to seed investors in 2008, which were fully vested upon the date of the grant.

As a result of the Share Exchange, each stock option (the "Partners Options"), whether vested or unvested, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time under the 2008 Partners Plan or the 2015 Partners Plan and together with the 2008 Partners Plan, (the "Partners Stock Plans"), immediately 100% vested, to the extent not already vested, and converted into and became stock options to purchase the Company common stock. In addition, the Company assumed each Partners Stock Plan, and assumed each Partners Option in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Partners Stock Plan pursuant to which it was issued. As such, Partners Options to acquire 149,200 shares of Partner’s common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $10.52 per share were converted into stock options to acquire 256,294 shares of the Company common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $6.13 per share. The number of shares was determined by multiplying the number of shares of Partners’ common stock for which the option was exercisable by the number of shares of the Company common stock into which shares of Partners common stock were convertible in the Share Exchange, which was 1.7179 (the “Conversion Ratio”), rounded to the next lower whole share. The exercise price was determined by dividing the exercise price per share of Partners common stock by the Conversion Ratio, rounded up to the nearest cent.

Table of Contents

A summary of stock option transactions with respect to such options for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 is as follows:


	September 30, 2021
				Weighted
			Weighted	Average
			Average	Remaining
			Exercise	Contractual		Intrinsic
	Shares		Price	Life		Value
Outstanding at beginning of period	186,552	$	6.22	3.47
Granted	—		—	—
Exercised	—		—	—
Forfeited	—		—	—
Outstanding at end of period	186,552	$	6.22	2.73	$	382,267

Options exercisable at September 30, 2021	186,552	$	6.22

The intrinsic value represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (the amount by which the current market value of the underlying stock options exceeds the exercise price) that would have been received by the holders had they exercised their stock options on September 30, 2021.

As stated in Note 1, the Company follows ASC 718-10 which requires that stock-based compensation to employees and directors be recognized as compensation cost in the income statement based on their fair values on the measurement date, which, for the Company, is the date of the grant. All stock option expenses had been fully recognized prior to 2020.

Note 7. Restricted Stock Plan

The Company had an employee and director restricted stock plan (the “Company Plan”) and reserved 405,805 shares of stock for issuance thereunder. The Company adopted the Company Plan, pursuant to which employee and directors of the Company could acquire shares of common stock. The Company Plan was adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors in April 2014, and was subject to the right of the Board of Directors to terminate the Company Plan at any time. The Company Plan terminated at its scheduled date on June 30, 2018. The termination of the Company Plan, either at the scheduled termination date or before such date, did not affect any award issued prior to termination. During 2017 and 2018 the Company awarded 5,000 and 9,000 shares, respectively, to individual employees based on certain employment criteria. These shares vested over two or three years, based on the specific employment agreement. Each award from the plan is evidenced by an award agreement that specifies the vesting period of the restricted stock plan, the number of shares to which the award pertains, and such other provisions as the grantor determines.

As of September 30, 2021 there were no remaining non-vested restricted stock awards. A schedule of vested awards in 2021 as of September 30, 2021 is as follows:


	Employees
		Weighted
		Average
	Shares	Fair Value
Nonvested Awards December 31, 2020	3,000	$	7.30
Vested in 2021	(3,000)		7.30
Nonvested Awards September 30, 2021	—	$	—

Table of Contents

As stated in Note 1, the Company follows ASC 718-10 which requires that restricted stock-based compensation to employees and directors be recognized as compensation cost in the income statement based on their fair values on the measurement date. The fair value of restricted stock granted is equal to the underlying fair value of the stock. No expense was recognized during the three months ended September 30, 2021. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021 the Company recognized restricted stock-based compensation expense of $4 thousand, or $3 thousand net of tax, related to the restricted stock awards under the Company Plan. During the three months ended September 30, 2020 the Company recognized restricted stock-based compensation expense of $6 thousand, or $4 thousand net of tax, related to the restricted stock awards under the Company Plan. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020 the Company recognized restricted stock-based compensation expense of $17 thousand, or $12 thousand net of tax, related to the restricted stock awards under the Company Plan. The Company did not have any unrecognized restricted stock-based compensation expense related to restricted stock awards under the Company Plan at September 30, 2021.

Note 8. Incentive Stock Plan

At the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders held on May 19, 2021 (the “2021 Annual Meeting”), the Company’s shareholders approved the Partners Bancorp 2021 Incentive Stock Plan (the “2021 Incentive Stock Plan”), which the Company’s Board of Directors had adopted, subject to shareholder approval, on January 27, 2021, based on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Committee”). The 2021 Incentive Stock Plan became effective upon shareholder approval at the 2021 Annual Meeting. The 2021 Incentive Stock Plan authorizes the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock awards and performance units to key employees and non-employee directors, including members of advisory boards, of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, as determined by the Committee. Subject to the right of the Board of Directors to terminate the 2021 Incentive Stock Plan at any time, awards may be granted under the 2021 Incentive Stock Plan until May 18, 2031. Subject to adjustment in the event of certain changes in the Company’s capital structure, the maximum number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be issued under the 2021 Incentive Stock Plan is 1,250,000. As of September 30, 2021, there are no awards outstanding under the 2021 Incentive Stock Plan.

On April 28, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors granted 58,824 shares of restricted stock to two senior officers of Partners in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) as inducements material to each of them accepting employment with Partners. All of these shares are subject to time vesting in three equal annual installments beginning on April 28, 2022.

As of September 30, 2021, there were 58,824 non-vested shares related to restricted stock awards. A schedule of non-vested shares related to restricted stock awards as of September 30, 2021 is as follows:


	Employees
		Weighted
		Average
	Shares	Fair Value
Nonvested Awards December 31, 2020	—	$	—
Awarded in 2021	58,824		7.65
Nonvested Awards September 30, 2021	58,824	$	7.65

As a result of applying the provisions of ASC 718-10, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recognized restricted stock-based compensation expense of $37 thousand, or $28 thousand net of tax, and $62 thousand, or $46 thousand net of tax, respectively, related to the restricted stock awards. Restricted stock-based compensation expense is accounted for using the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date the restricted shares were awarded, which was $7.65 for the awards granted on April 28, 2021. Unrecognized restricted stock-based compensation expense related to the restricted stock awards totaled approximately $388 thousand at September 30, 2021. The remaining period over which this unrecognized restricted stock-compensation expense is expected to be recognized is approximately 2.6 years.

Table of Contents

Note 9. Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share (EPS) is computed by dividing net income or loss by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is computed using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period, including the effect of all potentially dilutive shares outstanding attributable to stock instruments.

Applicable guidance requires that outstanding, unvested share-based payment awards that contain voting rights and rights to nonforfeitable dividends participate in undistributed earnings with common shareholders. Accordingly, the weighted average number of shares of the Company’s common stock used in the calculation of basic and diluted net income per common share includes unvested shares of the Company’s outstanding restricted common stock.

The following table presents basic and diluted EPS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020:


	Net Income Applicable
	to Basic Earnings		Weighted Average
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	Per Common Share		Shares Outstanding
For the three months ended September 30, 2021
Basic EPS	$	2,696		17,788	$	0.152
Effect of dilutive stock awards		—		56		—
Diluted EPS	$	2,696		17,844	$	0.151

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021
Basic EPS	$	5,946		17,758	$	0.335
Effect of dilutive stock awards		—		42		—
Diluted EPS	$	5,946		17,800	$	0.334


For the three months ended September 30, 2020
Basic EPS	$	1,117		17,810	$	0.063
Effect of dilutive stock awards		—		1		—
Diluted EPS	$	1,117		17,811	$	0.063

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020
Basic EPS	$	4,563		17,808	$	0.256
Effect of dilutive stock awards		—		30		—
Diluted EPS	$	4,563		17,838	$	0.256

Note 10. Regulatory Capital Requirements

The Company’s subsidiaries are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by Federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory — and possibly additional discretionary — actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company’s subsidiaries must meet specific capital adequacy guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s subsidiaries assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Company’s subsidiaries’ capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weighting, and other factors. Federal banking regulations also impose regulatory capital requirements on bank holding companies. Under the small bank holding company policy statement of the Federal Reserve Board, which applies to certain bank holding companies with consolidated total assets of less than $3 billion, the Company is not subject to regulatory capital requirements.

Table of Contents

On September 17, 2019, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation finalized a rule that introduced an optional simplified measure of capital adequacy for qualifying community banking organizations (i.e., the community bank leverage ratio (CBLR) framework), as required by the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act. The CBLR framework is designed to reduce burden by removing the requirements for calculating and reporting risk-based capital ratios for qualifying community banking organizations that opt into the framework.

In order to qualify for the CBLR framework, a community banking organization must have a tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 9 percent, less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets, and limited amounts of off-balance-sheet exposures and trading assets and liabilities. A qualifying community banking organization that opts into the CBLR framework and meets all requirements under the framework will be considered to have met the well-capitalized ratio requirements under the Prompt Corrective Action regulations and will not be required to report or calculate risk-based capital.

The Company has elected not to opt into the CBLR framework at this time.

Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Company’s subsidiaries to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (as defined in the regulations) of total and Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Tier 1 capital to average assets, and common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets. Management believes as of September 30, 2021 that the Company’s subsidiaries met all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject.

As of September 30, 2021, the most recent notification from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) categorized the Company’s subsidiaries as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized the Company’s subsidiaries must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based, Tier 1 leverage and common equity Tier 1 risk-based ratios. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed the Company’s subsidiaries category.

The Common Equity Tier 1, Tier 1 and Total capital ratios are calculated by dividing the respective capital amounts by risk-weighted assets. Risk-weighted assets are calculated based on regulatory requirements and include total assets, with certain exclusions, allocated by risk weight category, and certain off-balance-sheet items, among other things. The Tier 1 leverage ratio is calculated by dividing Tier 1 capital by adjusted quarterly average total assets, which exclude goodwill and other intangible assets, among other things.

The Basel III Capital Rules require the Company’s subsidiaries to maintain (i) a minimum ratio of Common Equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 4.5%, plus a 2.5% “capital conservation buffer” (which is added to the 4.5% Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio, effectively resulting in a minimum ratio of Common Equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 7.0%), (ii) a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 6.0%, plus the capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 6.0% Tier 1 capital ratio, effectively resulting in a minimum Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.5%), (iii) a minimum ratio of Total capital (that is, Tier 1 capital plus Tier 2 capital) to risk-weighted assets of at least 8.0%, plus the capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 8.0% Total capital ratio, effectively resulting in a minimum Total capital ratio of 10.5%) and (iv) a minimum leverage ratio of 4.0%, calculated as the ratio of Tier 1 capital to average quarterly assets.

The implementation of the capital conservation buffer became fully phased in on January 1, 2019. The capital conservation buffer is designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress and, as detailed above, effectively increases the minimum required risk-weighted capital ratios. Banking institutions with a ratio of Common Equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets below the effective minimum (4.5% plus the capital conservation buffer and, if applicable, the countercyclical capital buffer) will face constraints on dividends, equity repurchases and compensation based on the amount of the shortfall.

Table of Contents

The following table presents actual and required capital ratios as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 for the Company’s subsidiaries under the Basel III Capital Rules. The minimum required capital amounts presented include the minimum required capital levels as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 based on the fully phased-in provisions of the Basel III Capital Rules. Capital levels required to be considered well capitalized are based on prompt corrective action regulations, as amended to reflect the changes under the Basel III Capital Rules. A comparison of the Company’s subsidiaries’ capital amounts and ratios as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 with the minimum requirements are presented below.


									To Be
									Well Capitalized
					For Capital				Under Prompt
					Adequacy				Corrective Action
In Thousands	Actual				Purposes				Provisions
	Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio
As of September 30, 2021
Total Capital Ratio
(To Risk Weighted Assets)
The Bank of Delmarva	$	89,443	12.8	%	$	73,341	10.5	%	$	69,848	10.0	%
Virginia Partners Bank		55,846	12.4	%		47,450	10.5	%		45,190	10.0	%
Tier I Capital Ratio
(To Risk Weighted Assets)
The Bank of Delmarva		80,670	11.5	%		59,371	8.5	%		55,879	8.0	%
Virginia Partners Bank		52,703	11.7	%		38,412	8.5	%		36,152	8.0	%
Common Equity Tier I Ratio
(To Risk Weighted Assets)
The Bank of Delmarva		80,670	11.5	%		48,894	7.0	%		45,401	6.5	%
Virginia Partners Bank		52,703	11.7	%		31,633	7.0	%		29,374	6.5	%
Tier I Leverage Ratio
(To Average Assets)
The Bank of Delmarva		80,670	7.9	%		40,823	4.0	%		51,029	5.0	%
Virginia Partners Bank		52,703	8.8	%		23,920	4.0	%		29,900	5.0	%

As of December 31, 2020
Total Capital Ratio
(To Risk Weighted Assets)
The Bank of Delmarva	$	85,497	12.9	%	$	69,608	10.5	%	$	66,294	10.0	%
Virginia Partners Bank		51,971	13.5	%		40,381	10.5	%		38,459	10.0	%
Tier I Capital Ratio
(To Risk Weighted Assets)
The Bank of Delmarva		77,168	11.6	%		56,350	8.5	%		53,035	8.0	%
Virginia Partners Bank		50,271	13.1	%		32,690	8.5	%		30,767	8.0	%
Common Equity Tier I Ratio
(To Risk Weighted Assets)
The Bank of Delmarva		77,168	11.6	%		46,406	7.0	%		43,091	6.5	%
Virginia Partners Bank		50,271	13.1	%		26,921	7.0	%		24,998	6.5	%
Tier I Leverage Ratio
(To Average Assets)
The Bank of Delmarva		77,168	8.1	%		38,262	4.0	%		47,827	5.0	%
Virginia Partners Bank		50,271	9.5	%		21,253	4.0	%		26,567	5.0	%

Banking regulations also limit the amount of dividends that may be paid without prior approval of the Company’s regulatory agencies. Regulatory approval is required to pay dividends, which exceed the Company’s net profits for the current year plus its retained net profits for the preceding two years.

Table of Contents

Note 11. Fair Values of Financial Instruments

FASB ASC 825, Financial Instruments (“ASC 825”) requires disclosure about fair value of financial instruments, including those financial assets and financial liabilities that are not required to be measured and reported at fair value on a recurring or nonrecurring basis. ASC 825 excludes certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments from its disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented may not necessarily represent the underlying fair value of the Company. Additionally, in accordance with ASU 2016-01, the Company uses the exit price notion, rather than the entry price notion, in calculating the fair values of financial instruments not measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

The estimated fair values, and related carrying amounts, of the Company’s financial instruments are as follows:


Dollars are in thousands			Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2021
			Quoted Prices in		Significant		Significant
			Active Markets for		Other		Unobservable
	Carrying		Identical Assets		Observable Inputs		Inputs
	Amount		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Balance
Financial assets:
Cash and due from banks	$	16,176	$	16,176	$	—	$	—	$	16,176
Interest bearing deposits		300,771		300,771		—		—		300,771
Federal funds sold		29,995		29,995		—		—		29,995
Securities:
Available for sale		115,550		—		115,550		—		115,550
Loans held for sale		5,803		—		5,803		—		5,803
Loans, net of allowance for credit losses		1,090,169		—		—		1,081,854		1,081,854
Accrued interest receivable		4,408		—		4,408		—		4,408
Restricted stock		4,869		—		4,869		—		4,869
Other investments		5,075		—		5,075		—		5,075
Bank owned life insurance		18,141		—		18,141		—		18,141
Other real estate owned		1,303		—		—		1,303		1,303
Financial liabilities:
Deposits	$	1,435,453	$	—	$	1,026,186	$	413,171	$	1,439,357
Accrued interest payable		311		—		311		—		311
FHLB advances		26,478		—		27,297		—		27,297
Subordinated notes payable		22,157		—		30,468		—		30,468
Other borrowings		640		—		—		640		640


Dollars are in thousands			Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2020
			Quoted Prices in		Significant		Significant
			Active Markets for		Other		Unobservable
	Carrying		Identical Assets		Observable Inputs		Inputs
	Amount		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Balance
Financial assets:
Cash and due from banks	$	13,643	$	13,643	$	—	$	—	$	13,643
Interest bearing deposits		218,667		218,667		—		—		218,667
Federal funds sold		50,301		50,301		—		—		50,301
Securities:
Available for sale		124,925		—		124,925		—		124,925
Loans held for sale		9,858		—		9,858		—		9,858
Loans, net of allowance for credit losses		1,022,302		—		—		1,018,649		1,018,649
Accrued interest receivable		5,229		—		5,229		—		5,229
Restricted stock		5,445		—		5,445		—		5,445
Other investments		5,091		—		5,091		—		5,091
Bank owned life insurance		14,841		—		14,841		—		14,841
Other real estate owned		2,677		—		—		2,677		2,677
Financial liabilities:
Deposits	$	1,268,140	$	—	$	839,122	$	435,910	$	1,275,032
Accrued interest payable		402		—		402		—		402
FHLB advances		32,972		—		34,147		798		34,945
Subordinated notes payable		24,101		—		34,810		—		34,810
Other borrowings		42,382		—		41,585		—		41,585

Table of Contents

The Company assumes interest rate risk (the risk that general interest rate levels will change) as a result of its normal operations. As a result, the fair values of the Company’s financial instruments will change when interest rate levels change and that change may be either favorable or unfavorable to the Company. Management attempts to match maturities of assets and liabilities to the extent believed necessary to minimize interest rate risk. However, borrowers with fixed rate obligations are less likely to repay in a rising rate environment and more likely to prepay in a falling rate environment. Conversely, depositors who are receiving fixed rates are more likely to withdraw funds before maturity in a rising rate environment and less likely to do so in a falling rate environment. Management monitors rates and maturities of assets and liabilities and attempts to minimize interest rate risk by adjusting terms of new loans and deposits and by investing in securities with terms that mitigate the Bank's overall interest rate risk.

Note 12. Fair Value Measurements

The Company follows ASC 820-10 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820-10”), which provides a framework for measuring and disclosing fair value under generally accepted accounting principles. ASC Topic 820 requires disclosures about the fair value of assets and liabilities recognized in the balance sheet in periods subsequent to initial recognition, whether the measurements are made on a recurring basis (for example, available for sale investments securities) or on a nonrecurring basis (for example, impaired loans).

ASC Topic 820 defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. ASC Topic 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value.

Fair Value Hierarchy

In accordance with this guidance, the Company groups its financial assets and financial liabilities generally measured at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value.

Level 1 - Valuation is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

Level 2 - Valuation is based on observable inputs including quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in less active markets, and model-based valuation techniques for which significant assumptions can be derived primarily from or corroborated by observable data in the market.

Level 3 - Valuation is based on model-based techniques that use one or more significant inputs or assumptions that are unobservable in the market.

The following describes the valuation techniques used by the Company to measure certain financial assets recorded at fair value on a recurring basis in the financial statements:

Investment Securities Available for Sale:

Investment securities available for sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value measurement is based upon quoted market prices, when available (Level 1). If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are measured utilizing independent valuation techniques of identical or similar securities for which significant assumptions are derived primarily from or corroborated by observable market data. Third party vendors compile prices from various sources and may determine the fair value of identical or similar securities by using pricing models that consider observable market data (Level 2). In certain cases where there is limited activity or less transparency around inputs to the valuation, securities are classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy. Currently, all of the Company’s investment securities available for sale are considered to be Level 2 securities.

Table of Contents

The following tables present the balances of financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020:


							Fair
Dollars are in thousands	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Value
September 30, 2021
Securities available for sale:
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and corporations	$	—	$	5,522	$	—	$	5,522
Obligations of States and political subdivisions		—		35,407		—		35,407
Mortgage-backed securities		—		72,581		—		72,581
Subordinated debt investments		—		2,040		—		2,040
Total securities available for sale	$	—	$	115,550	$	—	$	115,550
December 31, 2020
Securities available for sale:
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and corporations	$	—	$	6,883	$	—	$	6,883
Obligations of States and political subdivisions		—		38,123		—		38,123
Mortgage-backed securities		—		75,876		—		75,876
Subordinated debt investments		—		4,043		—		4,043
Total securities available for sale	$	—	$	124,925	$	—	$	124,925

Certain financial assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjustments to the fair value of these financial assets usually result from the application of lower of cost or market accounting or write-downs of individual assets.

The following describes the valuation techniques used by the Company to measure certain financial assets recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in the financial statements:

Loans Held for Sale:

Loans held for sale are loans originated by JMC for sale in the secondary market. Loans originated for sale by JMC are recorded at lower of cost or market. No market adjustments were required at September 30, 2021; therefore, loans held for sale were carried at cost. Because of the short-term nature, the book value of these loans approximates fair value at September 30, 2021.

Impaired Loans:

Loans are designated as impaired when, in the judgment of management based on current information and events, it is probable that all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement will not be collected when due. The measurement of loss associated with impaired loans can be based on either the observable market price of the loan or the fair value of the collateral. Fair value is measured based on the value of the collateral securing the loans. Collateral may be in the form of real estate or business assets including equipment, inventory, and accounts receivable. The vast majority of the collateral is real estate. The value of real estate collateral is determined utilizing a market valuation approach based on an appraisal conducted by an independent, licensed appraiser outside of the Company using observable market data (Level 2). However, if the collateral is a house or building in the process of construction or if an appraisal of the real estate property is over two years old, then the fair value is considered Level 3. The value of business equipment is based upon an outside appraisal if deemed significant, or the net book value on the applicable business’s financial statements if not considered significant. Likewise, values for inventory and accounts receivables collateral are based on financial statement balances or aging reports (Level 3). Impaired loans allocated to the allowance for loan losses are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Any fair value adjustments are recorded in the period incurred as a provision for loan losses on the consolidated statement of income.

Table of Contents

Other Real Estate Owned:

OREO is measured at fair value less cost to sell, based on an appraisal conducted by an independent, licensed appraiser outside of the Company. If the collateral value is significantly adjusted due to differences in the comparable properties, or is discounted by the Company because of marketability, then the fair value is considered Level 3. OREO is measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Any initial fair value adjustment is charged against the allowance for loan losses. Subsequent fair value adjustments are recorded in the period incurred and included in other noninterest expense on the consolidated statement of income.

The following table presents the balances of financial assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020.


							Fair
Dollars are in thousands	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Value
September 30, 2021
Impaired loans	$	—	$	—	$	5,024	$	5,024
OREO		—		—		1,303		1,303
Total	$	—	$	—	$	6,327	$	6,327
December 31, 2020
Impaired loans	$	—	$	—	$	2,581	$	2,581
OREO		—		—		2,677		2,677
Total	$	—	$	—	$	5,258	$	5,258

The following table presents additional quantitative information about assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and for which the Company has utilized Level 3 inputs to determine fair value as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020:


September 30, 2021			Valuation	Unobservable	Range of
Dollars are in thousands	Fair Value		Technique	Inputs	Inputs
Impaired loans	$	5,024	Appraisals	Discount to reflect current market conditions and estimated selling costs	8%
OREO		1,303	Appraisals	Discount to reflect current market conditions and estimated selling costs	8-10%
Total	$	6,327


December 31, 2020			Valuation	Unobservable	Range of
Dollars are in thousands	Fair Value		Technique	Inputs	Inputs
Impaired loans	$	2,581	Appraisals	Discount to reflect current market conditions and estimated selling costs	8%
OREO		2,677	Appraisals	Discount to reflect current market conditions and estimated selling costs	8-10%
Total	$	5,258

Table of Contents

Note 13. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The Company accounts for goodwill and other intangible assets in accordance with ASC Topic 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (“ASC 350). The Company records the excess of cost acquired entities over the fair value of identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired, less liabilities assumed, as goodwill. The Company amortizes acquired intangible assets with definite useful economic lives over their useful economic lives. On a periodic basis, management assesses whether events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the intangible assets may be impaired. The Company does not amortize goodwill or any acquired intangible assets with an indefinite useful economic life, but reviews them for impairment on an annual basis, or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may be impaired. The Company has performed the required goodwill impairment test and has determined that goodwill was not impaired as of December 31, 2020.

Goodwill: The following table provides changes in goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020:


	September 30,		December 31,
Dollars in Thousands	2021		2020
Balance at the beginning of the period	$	9,582	$	9,391
Measurement period adjustments		—		191
Balance at the end of the period	$	9,582	$	9,582

The measurement period adjustments in the table above relate to the finalization of tax and related deferred tax adjustments in connection with the acquisition of Partners.

Core Deposit Intangible: The Company acquired core deposit intangibles in the Liberty merger and the Partners Share Exchange. For the core deposit intangible related to Liberty, the Company utilizes the double declining balance method of amortization, in which the straight line amortization rate is doubled and applied to the remaining unamortized portion of the intangible asset. The amortization method changes to the straight line method of amortization when the straight line amortization amount exceeds the amount that would be calculated under the double declining balance method. This core deposit intangible is being amortized over seven years. For the core deposit intangible related to Partners, the Company utilizes the sum of months method and an estimated average life of 120 months. The following table provides changes for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, and the year ended December 31, 2020:


	September 30,		December 31,
Dollars in Thousands	2021		2020
Balance at the beginning of the period	$	2,660	$	3,373
Amortization		(455)		(713)
Balance at the end of the period	$	2,205	$	2,660

The following table provides the amortization expense for the core deposit intangible over the years indicated below:


	September 30,
Dollars in Thousands	2021
2021	$	145
2022		520
2023		467
2024		415
2025		246
Thereafter		412
	$	2,205

Table of Contents

Net Deposits Purchased Premium and Discount: The Company paid a deposit premium in the Liberty Merger and received a deposit discount in the Partners Share Exchange, which are included in the balances of time deposits on the balance sheets. The premium amount is amortized as a reduction in interest expense over the life of the acquired time deposits and the discount is accreted as an increase in interest expense over the life of the acquired time deposits. The premium and discount on deposits will both be amortized and accreted over approximately five years.

The following table provides changes in the net deposit discount for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020:


	September 30,		December 31,
Dollars in Thousands	2021		2020
Balance at the beginning of the period	$	(23)	$	(31)
Amortization, net		11		8
Balance at the end of the period	$	(12)	$	(23)

The following table provides the accretion for the net deposit discount over the years indicated below:


	September 30,
Dollars in Thousands	2021
2021	$	3
2022		6
2023		2
2024		1
	$	12

The net effect of the amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts associated with the Bank’s acquisition accounting adjustments to assets acquired and liabilities assumed had the following impact on the consolidated statement of income for the periods indicated below:


	September 30,		September 30,
	2021		2020
Nine Months Ended	Dollars in Thousands
Adjustments to net income
Loans (1)	$	1,149	$	1,391
Time deposits (2)		(11)		(3)
Core deposit intangible (3)		(455)		(540)
Note Payable (4)		(4)		(5)
Net impact to income before taxes	$	679	$	843

(1)	Loan discount accretion is included in the "Loans, including fees" section of "Interest Income" in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

(2)	Time deposit discount accretion is included in the "Deposits" section of "Interest Expense" in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

(3)	Core deposit intangible premium amortization is included in the "Other Expense" section of "Non-interest Expense" in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

(4)	Note payable discount accretion is included in the "Borrowings" section of "Interest Expense" in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

Table of Contents

Note 14. Revenue Recognition

The Company follows ASU No. 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“Topic 606”) and all subsequent ASUs that modified Topic 606. Topic 606 does not apply to revenue associated with financial instruments, including revenue from loans and securities. Topic 606 is applicable to noninterest revenue streams such as deposit related fees, interchange fees and merchant income. However, the recognition of these revenue streams did not change significantly upon adoption of Topic 606. Substantially all of the Company’s revenue is generated from contracts with customers. Noninterest revenue streams in-scope of Topic 606 are discussed below.

Service Charges on Deposit Accounts

Service charges on deposit accounts consist of account analysis fees (i.e., net fees earned on analyzed business and public checking accounts), monthly service fees, check orders, and other deposit account related fees. The Company’s performance obligation for account analysis fees and monthly service fees is generally satisfied, and the related revenue recognized, over the period in which the service is provided.

Check orders and other deposit account related fees are largely transactional based, and therefore, the Company’s performance obligation is satisfied, and related revenue recognized, at a point in time. Payment for service charges on deposit accounts is primarily received immediately or at the end of the month through a direct charge to customers’ accounts.

Mortgage Banking Income

Mortgage banking income, which is included in noninterest income, consists of gains and losses on the sale of mortgages as well as origination fees, brokerage fees, interest rate lock-in fees and other fees paid by mortgagors generated through Partners majority owned subsidiary JMC. JMC is engaged in the mortgage brokerage business in which JMC originates, closes, and immediately sells mortgage loans and related servicing rights to permanent investors in the secondary market. Loans are initially funded primarily by JMC’s warehouse lines of credit. With the concurrent sale and delivery of mortgage loans to the permanent investors, JMC records receivables for mortgage loans sold and recognizes the related gains and losses on such sales. The receivables for mortgage loans sold are usually satisfied within 30 days of sale, whereupon the related borrowings on the warehouse lines of credit are repaid.

Mortgage Division Income

Mortgage banking income, which is included is noninterest income, consists of fees for loans originated by the Company through an application process that are sent to a mortgage broker. The loan application and underwriting processes are completed by other various financial institutions. The Company receives a pre-negotiated fee at settlement for initiating the loan origination. The Company receives the fee and recognizes the income when the loan goes to settlement.

Table of Contents

Other Noninterest Income

Other noninterest income consists of: fees, exchange, other service charges, safety deposit box rental fees, and other miscellaneous revenue streams. Fees and other service charges are primarily comprised of debit and credit card income, ATM fees, merchant services income, and other service charges. Debit and credit card income is primarily comprised of interchange fees earned whenever the Company’s debit and credit cards are processed through card payment networks such as Visa. ATM fees are primarily generated when a Company cardholder uses a non-Company ATM or a non-Company cardholder uses a Company ATM. Merchant services income mainly represents fees charged to merchants to process their debit and credit card transactions, in addition to account management fees. Other service charges include revenue from processing wire transfers, bill pay service, cashier’s checks, and other services. The Company’s performance obligation for fees, exchange, and other service charges are largely satisfied, and related revenue recognized, when the services are rendered or upon completion. Payment is typically received immediately or in the following month. Safe deposit box rental fees are charged to the customer on an annual basis and recognized upon receipt of payment.

Note 15. Subsequent Event

On November 4, 2021, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Agreement”) with OceanFirst Financial Corp., a Delaware corporation (“OCFC”) and Coastal Merger Sub Corp., a Maryland corporation and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of OCFC (“Merger Sub”). Pursuant to the Agreement, Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company, whereby the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease and the Company will be the surviving corporation as a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of OCFC (the “First-Step Merger”). Immediately thereafter, the Company will be merged with and into OCFC, whereby the separate corporate existence of the Company will cease and OCFC will be the surviving corporation in the merger (the “Second-Step Merger”, and together with the First-Step Merger, the “Integrated Mergers”). Immediately following the consummation of the Integrated Mergers, Delmarva will be merged with and into OceanFirst Bank N.A., the wholly-owned national banking association subsidiary of OCFC (“OceanFirst Bank”), with OceanFirst Bank as the surviving bank (the “Delmarva Merger”). Immediately following the consummation of the Delmarva Merger, Partners will be merged with and into OceanFirst Bank, with OceanFirst Bank as the surviving bank (the “Partners Merger”).

At the effective time of the First-Step Merger, each share of Company common stock that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the First-Step Merger, other than Exception Shares (as defined in the Agreement), will be converted into the right to receive either (a) 0.4512 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of OCFC or (b) $10.00, in each case, at the election of the holder of the Company’s common stock, subject to (x) a maximum of forty percent (40%) of the shares of the Company’s common stock being convertible into cash and (y) the allocation and proration provisions of the Agreement. For more information on this pending transaction refer to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 4, 2021.

Note 16. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses” (“Topic 326”): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” The amendments in this ASU, among other things, require the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Financial institutions and other organizations will now use forward-looking information to better inform their credit loss estimates. Many of the loss estimation techniques applied today will still be permitted, although the inputs to those techniques will change to reflect the full amount of expected credit losses. In addition, the ASU amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. The FASB has issued multiple updates to ASU 2016-13 as codified in Topic 326, including ASU’s 2019-04, 2019-05, 2019-10, 2019-11, 2020-02, and 2020-03. These ASU’s have provided for various minor technical corrections and improvements to the codification as well as other transition matters. Smaller reporting companies who file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and all other entities who do not file with the SEC are required to apply the guidance for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company

Table of Contents

is currently evaluating the potential impact of ASU 2016-13 on our consolidated financial statements. We are currently working through our implementation plan which includes assessment and documentation of processes, internal controls and data sources; model development and documentation; and systems configuration, among other things. We are also in the process of implementing a third-party vendor solution to assist us in the application of the ASU 2016-13.

The adoption of the ASU 2016-13 could result in an increase in the allowance for loan losses as a result of changing from an “incurred loss” model, which encompasses allowances for current known and inherent losses within the portfolio, to an “expected loss” model, which encompasses allowances for losses expected to be incurred over the life of the portfolio. Furthermore, ASU 2016-13 will necessitate that we establish an allowance for expected credit losses for certain debt securities and other financial assets. While we are currently unable to reasonably estimate the impact of adopting ASU 2016-13, we expect that the impact of adoption will be significantly influenced by the composition, characteristics and quality of our loan and securities portfolios as well as the prevailing economic conditions and forecasts as of the adoption date.

Effective November 25, 2019, the SEC adopted Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) 119. SAB 119 updated portions of SEC interpretative guidance to align with ASC 326. It covers topics including (1) measuring current expected credit losses; (2) development, governance, and documentation of a systematic methodology; (3) documenting the results of a systematic methodology; and (4) validating a systematic methodology.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740) – Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes” (“ASU 2019-12”). The ASU is expected to reduce cost and complexity related to the accounting for income taxes by removing specific exceptions to general principles in Topic 740 (eliminating the need for an organization to analyze whether certain exceptions apply in a given period) and improving financial statement preparers’ application of certain income tax-related guidance. This ASU is part of the FASB’s simplification initiative to make narrow-scope simplifications and improvements to accounting standards through a series of short-term projects. ASU 2019-12 was effective for the Company on January 1, 2021, and did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, “Investments – Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures” (“Topic 323”), and “Derivatives and Hedging” (“Topic 815”) – Clarifying the Interactions between Topic 321, Topic 323, and Topic 815.” The ASU is based on a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force and is expected to increase comparability in accounting for these transactions. ASU 2016-01 made targeted improvements to accounting for financial instruments, including providing an entity the ability to measure certain equity securities without a readily determinable fair value at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. Among other topics, the amendments clarify that an entity should consider observable transactions that require it to either apply or discontinue the equity method of accounting. ASU 2020-01 was effective for the Company on January 1, 2021 and did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting” (“Topic 848”). These amendments provide temporary optional guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. The ASU provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contract modifications and hedging relationships, subject to meeting certain criteria, that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued. It is intended to help stakeholders during the global market-wide reference rate transition period. The guidance is effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Subsequently, in January 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-01 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope”. This ASU clarifies that certain optional expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 for contract modifications and hedge accounting apply to derivatives that are affected by the discounting transition. The ASU also amends the expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 to capture the incremental consequences of the scope clarification and to tailor the existing guidance to derivative instruments affected by the discounting transition. An entity may elect to apply ASU No. 2021-01 on contract modifications that change the interest rate used for margining, discounting, or contract price alignment retrospectively as of any date from the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020, or prospectively to new modifications from any date within the interim period that includes or is subsequent to January 7, 2021, up to the date that financial statements are available to be issued. An entity may elect to

Table of Contents

apply ASU No. 2021-01 to eligible hedging relationships existing as of the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020, and to new eligible hedging relationships entered into after the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020. The Company is assessing ASU 2020-04 and its impact on the Company’s transition away from LIBOR for its loan and other financial instruments, and is currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2020-04 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU) No. 2020-06 “Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity.” The ASU simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current U.S. GAAP. Consequently, more convertible debt instruments will be reported as a single liability instrument and more convertible preferred stock as a single equity instrument with no separate accounting for embedded conversion features. The ASU removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception, which will permit more equity contracts to qualify for it. The ASU also simplifies the diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) calculation in certain areas. In addition, the amendment updates the disclosure requirements for convertible instruments to increase the information transparency. For public business entities, excluding smaller reporting companies, the amendments in the ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2020-06 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In October 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-08, “Codification Improvements to Subtopic 310-20, Receivables – Nonrefundable fees and Other Costs” (“ASU 2020-08”). This ASU clarifies that an entity should reevaluate whether a callable debt security is within the scope of ASC paragraph 310-20-35-33 for each reporting period. ASU 2020-08 was effective for the Company on January 1, 2021 and did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In December 2020, the CAA was passed. Under Section 541 of the CAA, Congress extended or modified many of the relief programs first created by the CARES Act, including the PPP loan program and treatment of certain loan modifications related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CAA did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. (See Note 3 – Loans, Allowance for Credit Losses and Impaired Loans for further information).

In May 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-04, “Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt - Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity – Classified Written Call Options (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force).” The ASU addresses how an issuer should account for modifications or an exchange of freestanding written call options classified as equity that is not within the scope of another Topic. For both public and private companies, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. Transition is prospective. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2021-04 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-06, “'Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205), Financial Services—Depository and Lending (Topic 942), and Financial Services—Investment Companies (Topic 946): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Final Rule Releases No. 33-10786, Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses, and No. 33-10835, Update of Statistical Disclosures for Bank and Savings and Loan Registrants. This ASU incorporates recent SEC rule changes into the FASB Codification, including SEC Final Rule Releases No. 33-10786, Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses, and No. 33-10835, Update of Statistical Disclosures for Bank and Savings and Loan Registrants”. The ASU is effective upon addition to the FASB Codification. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2021-06 to have a material impact on its financial statements.

Table of Contents

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion compares the Company’s financial condition at September 30, 2021 to its financial condition at December 31, 2020 and the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto in Item 8 of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and the other information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2021 or any other period.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that include, without limitation, projections, predictions, expectations, or beliefs about future events or results that are not statements of historical fact. Such forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions as of the time they are made, and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often accompanied by words that convey projected future events or outcomes such as “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “will,” “may,” “view,” “opportunity,” “potential,” or words of similar meaning or other statements concerning opinions or judgment of the Company and its management about future events. Although the Company believes that its expectations with respect to forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its existing knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results, performance, or achievements of, or trends affecting, the Company will not differ materially from any projected future results, performance, achievements or trends expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Actual future results, performance, achievements or trends may differ materially from historical results or those anticipated depending on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:

●	the ability of the Company and OceanFirst Financial Corp. (“OCFC”), to obtain the required regulatory and shareholder approvals necessary to complete the pending merger with OCFC;

●

the risk that the integration of OCFC’s and the Company’s operations will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected or that OCFC and the Company are otherwise unable to successfully integrate their businesses and achieve the expected cost savings and other benefits of the transaction;

●	deposit attrition, operating costs, customer losses and other disruptions to the Company’s businesses as a result of the announcement and pendency of the proposed merger with OCFC, and diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities;

●	changes in interest rates;

●

general economic and financial market conditions, in the United States generally and particularly in the markets in which the Company operates and in which its loans are concentrated, including the effects of declines in real estate values, increases in or sustained high levels of unemployment and bankruptcies and slowdowns in economic growth, including as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic (“COVID-19”);

●	the quality or composition of the loan or investment portfolios and changes therein;

●	demand for loan products and financial services in the Company’s market area;

●	the Company’s ability to manage its growth or implement its growth strategy, including with respect to the Company’s recent expansion into the Greater Washington market;

●	the introduction of new lines of business or new products and services;

●	the Company’s ability to recruit and retain key employees;

●	real estate values in the Company’s lending area;

Table of Contents

●	an insufficient allowance for credit losses;

●	the Company’s liquidity and capital positions;

●	concentrations of loans secured by real estate, particularly commercial real estate;

●	the effectiveness of the Company’s credit processes and management of the Company’s credit risk;

●	the Company’s ability to compete in the market for financial services;

●	technological risks and developments, and cyber threats, attacks, or events;

●

the potential adverse effects of unusual and infrequently occurring events, such as weather-related disasters, terrorist acts or public health events (including the COVID-19 pandemic), and of governmental and societal responses thereto; these potential adverse effects may include, without limitation, adverse effects on the ability of the Company’s borrowers to satisfy their obligations to the Company, on the value of collateral securing loans, on the demand for the Company’s loans or its other products and services, on incidents of cyberattack and fraud, on the Company’s liquidity or capital positions, on risks posed by reliance on third-party service providers, on other aspects of the Company’s business operations and on financial markets and economic growth;

●

the potential effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, the steps the Company takes in response to the pandemic, the severity and duration of the pandemic, and the distribution and efficacy of vaccines, including the pace of recovery when the pandemic subsides and the heightened impact it has on many of the risks described herein;

●	performance by the Company’s counterparties or vendors;

●	deposit flows;

●	the availability of financing and the terms thereof;

●	the level of prepayments on loans and mortgage-backed securities;

●	legislative or regulatory changes and requirements, including further legislative and regulatory reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic;

●	the effects of changes in federal, state or local tax laws and regulations;

●	monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. government including policies of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve;

●	changes to applicable accounting principles and guidelines; and

●	other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company.

Please refer to the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K and comparable sections of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 (this “Quarterly Report”) and related disclosures in other filings which have been filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. All of the forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this Quarterly Report. The actual results or developments anticipated may not be realized or, even if substantially realized, they may not have the expected consequences to or effects on the Company or its businesses or operations. Readers are cautioned not to rely too heavily on the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update, revise, or clarify these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Overview

Partners Bancorp, a bank holding corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, The Bank of Delmarva (“Delmarva”) and Virginia Partners Bank (“Virginia Partners”), each of which are commercial banking corporations, engages in general commercial banking operations, with twenty branches throughout Wicomico, Charles, Anne Arundel, and Worcester Counties in Maryland, Sussex County in Delaware, Camden and Burlington Counties in New Jersey, the cities of Fredericksburg and Reston, Virginia, and Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

Table of Contents

The Company derives the majority of its income from interest received on our loans and investment securities. The primary source of funding for making these loans and acquiring investment securities are deposits and secondarily, borrowings. Consequently, one of the key measures of the Company’s success is the amount of net interest income, or the difference between the income on interest-earning assets, such as loans and investment securities, and the expense on interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings. The resulting ratio of that difference as a percentage of average interest-earning assets represents the net interest margin. Another key measure is the spread between the yield earned on interest-earning assets and the rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, which is called the net interest spread. In addition to earning interest on loans and investment securities, the Company earns income through fees and other charges to customers. Also included is a discussion of the various components of this noninterest income, as well as of noninterest expense.

There are risks inherent in all loans, so the Company maintains an allowance for credit losses to absorb probable losses on existing loans that may become uncollectible. The Company maintains this allowance for credit losses by charging a provision for credit losses as needed against its operating earnings for each period. The Company has included a detailed discussion of this process, as well as several tables describing its allowance for credit losses.

The Company’s financial performance generally, and in particular the ability of its borrowers to repay their loans, the value of collateral securing those loans, as well as demand for loans and other products and services the Company offers, is highly dependent on the business environment in the Company’s primary markets where the Company operates and in the United States as a whole.

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely disrupted supply chains and adversely affected production, demand, sales and employee productivity across a range of industries and dramatically increased unemployment in the Company’s areas of operation and nationally. These events have continued to affect the Company’s operations in the first nine months of 2021 and are likely to impact the Company’s financial results throughout the remainder of fiscal year 2021. The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operational and financial performance will depend on certain developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak, the impact on the Company’s customers, employees and vendors and the nature and effect of past and future federal and state governmental and private sector responses to the pandemic, all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted.

In connection with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, both Delmarva and Virginia Partners continue to follow their pandemic response plans, which were enacted in February 2020. To date, management believes that the plans have been implemented successfully. The operation of these plans continues to require daily oversight in order to properly navigate this complex and ever-changing environment. The roll out of these plans previously resulted in adjustments to both Delmarva and Virginia Partners branch operations, including, but not limited to, lobby and drive-thru hours as well as physical access, the provision of personal protection equipment to employees and customers, and having employees work remotely whenever possible. As of September 30, 2021, both Delmarva and Virginia Partners branch operations were operating under normal lobby and drive-thru hours. In addition, the majority of Delmarva’s and Virginia Partners’ employees, with a few exceptions, have shifted from remote work to returning to the office on either a full-time or hybrid basis. Delmarva and Virginia Partners continue to proactively work with their local, state and federal government agencies to ensure their response to the COVID-19 pandemic is both safe and sound with little disruption to their customers. Additionally, Delmarva and Virginia Partners continue to take necessary precautions in order to protect their staffs, customers and their families as well as their communities, and to limit the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Table of Contents

Future developments with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted and new information may emerge concerning the severity of the outbreak and the actions to contain the outbreak or treat its impact, among others. Other national health concerns, including the outbreak of other contagious diseases or pandemics may adversely affect the Company in the future. Please refer to the “Provision for (Reversal of) Credit Losses and Allowance for Credit Losses” section of this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for more information related to payment deferrals, concentrations in higher risk industries, and the impact on the allowance for credit losses.

The following discussion and analysis also identifies significant factors that have affected the Company’s financial position and operating results during the periods included in the consolidated financial statements accompanying this report. This management's discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in Item 1 in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the other statistical information included in this Quarterly Report.

Critical Accounting Policies

Certain critical accounting policies affect significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. These significant accounting policies are described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report as well as in Item 8 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. The accounting principles the Company follows and the methods of applying these principles conform to U.S. GAAP and general banking industry practices. The Company’s most critical accounting policy relates to the determination of the allowance for credit losses, which reflects the estimated losses resulting from the inability of borrowers to make loan payments. The determination of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses involves significant judgment and complexity and is based on many factors. If the financial condition of the Company’s borrowers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, the estimates would be updated and additional provisions for credit losses may be required. See “Provision for (Reversal of) Credit Losses and Allowance for Credit Losses” and Note 1 and Note 3 of the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Another of the Company’s critical accounting policies, with the acquisitions of Liberty in 2018 and Virginia Partners in 2019, relates to the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets. The Company accounted for the Liberty Merger and the Virginia Partners Share Exchange in accordance with ASC Topic No. 805, which requires the use of the acquisition method of accounting. Under this method, assets acquired, including intangible assets, and liabilities assumed, are recorded at their fair value. Determination of fair value involves estimates based on internal valuations of discounted cash flow analyses performed, third party valuations, or other valuation techniques that involve subjective assumptions. Additionally, the term of the useful lives and appropriate amortization periods of intangible assets is subjective. Resulting goodwill from the Liberty Merger and the Virginia Partners Share Exchange, which totaled approximately $5.2 million and $4.4 million, respectively, under the acquisition method of accounting represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized, but is evaluated for impairment annually or more frequently if deemed necessary. If the fair value of an asset exceeds the carrying amount of the asset, no charge to goodwill is made. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the asset, goodwill will be adjusted through a charge to earnings, which is limited to the amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. In evaluating the goodwill on its consolidated balance sheet for impairment after the consummation date of the Liberty Merger and the Virginia Partners Share Exchange, the Company will first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of our acquired assets is less than the carrying amount of the acquired assets, as allowed under ASU 2017-04. After making the assessment based on several factors, which will include, but is not limited to, the current economic environment, the economic outlook in our markets, our financial performance and common stock value as compared to our peers, we will determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of our assets is greater than their carrying amount and, accordingly, will determine whether impairment of goodwill should be recorded as a charge to earnings in years subsequent to the Liberty Merger and the Virginia Partners Share Exchange. This assessment was performed during the fourth quarter of 2020, and resulted in no impairment of goodwill. Depending on the severity of the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on the Company, management may determine that goodwill is required to be evaluated for impairment due to the presence of a triggering event, which may have a negative impact on the Company’s results of operations. Management considered the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on goodwill and determined that a triggering event had not occurred as of September 30,

Table of Contents

2021. See Note 13 – Goodwill and Intangible Assets of the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for more information related to goodwill and intangible assets.

In addition to the Company’s policies related to the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, ongoing accounting for acquired loans is considered a critical accounting policy. Acquired loans are classified as either PCI loans or purchased performing loans and are recorded at fair value on the date of acquisition. PCI loans are those for which there is evidence of credit deterioration since origination and for which it is probable at the date of acquisition that the Company will not collect all contractually required principal and interest payments. The difference between contractually required payments at acquisition and the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition is referred to as the “nonaccretable difference.” Any excess of cash flows expected at acquisition over the estimated fair value is referred to as the “accretable yield” and is recognized as interest income over the remaining life of the loan when there is a reasonable expectation about the amount and timing of such cash flows. Periodically, the Company evaluates its estimate of cash flows expected to be collected on PCI loans. Estimates of cash flows for PCI loans require significant judgment. Subsequent decreases to the expected cash flows will generally result in a provision for credit losses resulting in an increase to the allowance for credit losses. Subsequent significant increases in cash flows may result in a reversal of post-acquisition provision for credit losses or a transfer from nonaccretable difference to accretable yield that increases interest income over the remaining life of the loan, or pool(s) of loans. The Company accounts for purchased performing loans using the contractual cash flows method of recognizing discount accretion based on the acquired loans’ contractual cash flows. Purchased performing loans are recorded at fair value, including a credit discount. The fair value discount is accreted as an adjustment to yield over the estimated lives of the loans. There is no allowance for credit losses established at the acquisition date for purchased performing loans, but a provision for credit losses may be required for any deterioration in these loans in future periods. The Company evaluates purchased performing loans quarterly for deterioration and records any required additional provision for credit losses.

Results of Operations

Net income attributable to the Company was $2.7 million, or $0.15 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2021, a $1.6 million, or 141.1%, increase when compared to net income attributable to the Company of $1.1 million, or $0.06 per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2020.

The increase in net income attributable to the Company for the three months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020, was driven by an increase in net interest income and a lower provision for credit losses, and was partially offset by a decrease in other income and higher other expenses and federal and state income taxes.

Net income attributable to the Company was $5.9 million, or $0.33 per basic and diluted share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a $1.4 million or 30.3% increase when compared to net income attributable to the Company of $4.6 million, or $0.26 per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2020.

The increase in net income attributable to the Company for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020, was driven by an increase in net interest income, lower provision for credit losses, and an increase in other income, and was partially offset by higher other expenses and federal and state income taxes.

The Company’s results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 were directly impacted by the following:

Positive Impacts:

●	An increase in net interest income due primarily to higher net loan fees earned related to the forgiveness of loans originated and funded under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) of the Small Business Administration and lower rates paid on average interest bearing deposits;

●	A higher net interest margin (tax equivalent basis) for the three months ended September 30, 2021;

●	A significantly lower provision for credit losses due to the current economic environment and the COVID-19 pandemic compared to September 30, 2020; and

Table of Contents

●	Improved operating results of Virginia Partners’ majority owned subsidiary Johnson Mortgage Company, LLC, and higher mortgage division fees at Delmarva for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

Negative Impacts:

●	A lower net interest margin (tax equivalent basis) for the nine months ended September 30, 2021;

●	Lower gains on sales and calls of investment securities for the nine months ended September 30, 2021;

●	Higher losses on other real estate owned due to valuation adjustments, partially offset by higher gains on sales; and

●

Expenses associated with Virginia Partners’ new key hires and expansion into the Greater Washington market and Delmarva opening its new information technology and training center during the fourth quarter of 2020 and its twelfth full-service branch at 26^th Street in Ocean City, Maryland during the second quarter of 2021.

For the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company’s annualized return on average assets, annualized return on average equity and efficiency ratio were 0.66%, 7.79% and 73.86%, respectively, as compared to 0.29%, 3.30% and 71.45%, respectively, for the same period in 2020.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company’s annualized return on average assets, annualized return on average equity and efficiency ratio were 0.50%, 5.86% and 73.49%, respectively, as compared to 0.44%, 4.57% and 70.93%, respectively, for the same period in 2020.

Financial Condition

Total assets as of September 30, 2021 were $1.64 billion, an increase of $123.6 million, or 8.2%, from December 31, 2020. Key drivers of this change were increases in cash and cash equivalents and total loans held for investment. Changes in key balance sheet components as of September 30, 2021 compared to December 31, 2020 were as follows:

●

Interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions as of September 30, 2021 were $300.8 million, an increase of $82.1 million, or 37.5%, from December 31, 2020. Key drivers of this change were total deposit growth outpacing total loan growth, a decrease in investment securities available for sale, at fair value, and the Company repositioning its excess liquidity in order to earn higher amounts of interest income, which were partially offset by a decrease in long-term borrowings with the Federal Home Loan Bank and other borrowings;

●	Federal funds sold as of September 30, 2021 were $30.0 million, a decrease of $20.3 million, or 40.4%, from December 31, 2020. Key drivers of this change were the aforementioned items noted in the analysis of interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions;

●

Investment securities available for sale, at fair value as of September 30, 2021 were $115.6 million, a decrease of $9.4 million, or 7.5%, from December 31, 2020. Key drivers of this change were higher yielding investment securities being called, accelerated prepayments on mortgage-backed investment securities in the low interest rate environment and a decrease in unrealized gains on the investment securities available for sale portfolio;

●

Loans, net of unamortized discounts on acquired loans of $2.7 million as of September 30, 2021 were $1.11 billion, an increase of $69.7 million, or 6.7%, from December 31, 2020. Key drivers of this change were the origination and funding of approximately $30.9 million in loans under round two of the PPP, which was partially offset by forgiveness payments received of approximately $58.8 million under rounds one and two of the PPP, and an increase in organic growth, including growth of approximately $40.6 million in loans related to Virginia Partners’ recent expansion into the Greater Washington market. As of September 30, 2021, approximately $14.4 million in loans under rounds one and two of the PPP were still outstanding;

●

Total deposits as of September 30, 2021 were $1.44 billion, an increase of $167.3 million, or 13.2%, from December 31, 2020. Key drivers of this change were organic growth as a result of our continued focus on total relationship banking and Virginia Partners’ recent expansion into the Greater Washington market, customers seeking the liquidity and safety of deposit accounts in light of continuing economic uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and the funding of loans under round two of the PPP, the proceeds of which were deposited directly into the operating accounts of these customers at the Company;

Table of Contents

●

Total borrowings as of September 30, 2021 were $49.3 million, a decrease of $50.2 million, or 50.5%, from December 31, 2020. Key drivers of this change was a decrease in long-term borrowings with the Federal Home Loan Bank resulting from maturities and payoffs of borrowings that were not replaced, the early redemption of $2.0 million in subordinated notes payable, net, in early July 2021, and a decrease in borrowings at the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window under the PPP Liquidity Facility in which the loans under the PPP originated by the Company had previously been pledged as collateral. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company used a portion of its excess cash and cash equivalents to repay all borrowings that were previously outstanding under the PPP Liquidity Facility; and

●

Total stockholders’ equity as of September 30, 2021 was $139.5 million, an increase of $2.9 million, or 2.1%, from December 31, 2020. Key drivers of this change was the net income attributable to the Company for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, which was partially offset by the decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, cash dividends paid to shareholders and the repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock under the Company’s Board of Directors approved stock purchase plan.

Delmarva's Tier 1 leverage capital ratio was 7.9% at September 30, 2021 as compared to 8.1% at December 31, 2020. At September 30, 2021, Delmarva's Tier 1 risk weighted capital ratio and total risk weighted capital ratio were 11.5% and 12.8%, respectively, as compared to a Tier 1 risk weighted capital ratio and total risk weighted capital ratio of 11.6% and 12.9%, respectively, at December 31, 2020.

Virginia Partners’ Tier 1 leverage capital ratio was 8.8% at September 30, 2021 as compared to 9.5% at December 31, 2020. At September 30, 2021, Virginia Partners’ Tier 1 risk weighted capital ratio and total risk weighted capital ratio were 11.7% and 12.4%, respectively, as compared to a Tier 1 risk weighted capital ratio and total risk weighted capital ratio of 13.1% and 13.5%, respectively, at December 31, 2020.

As of September 30, 2021, all of the capital ratios of Delmarva and Virginia Partners continue to exceed regulatory requirements, with total risk-based capital substantially above well-capitalized regulatory requirements.

See “Capital” below for additional information about Delmarva’s and Virginia Partners’ capital ratios and requirements.

At September 30, 2021, nonperforming assets totaled $8.1 million, an increase from December 31, 2020 balances of $7.6 million. The primary driver of this increase was an increase in nonaccrual loans, which was partially offset by decreases in loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest and OREO, net. Nonaccrual loans totaled approximately $6.8 million at September 30, 2021, as compared to $4.9 million at December 31, 2020. Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest totaled $0 at September 30, 2021, as compared to $2 thousand at December 31, 2020. OREO, net as of September 30, 2021 totaled $1.3 million, as compared to $2.7 million at December 31, 2020. Nonperforming loans as a percentage of total assets was 0.41% at September 30, 2021, as compared to 0.32% at December 31, 2020. Nonperforming assets to total assets as of September 30, 2021 was 0.49%, as compared to 0.50% at December 31, 2020. Loans classified as TDRs totaled $7.9 million at September 30, 2021, as compared to $6.7 million at December 31, 2020, representing an increase of $1.2 million during the first nine months of 2021. This increase was primarily due to one loan relationship that was classified as a TDR during the first nine months of 2021, partially offset by four loan relationships that no longer met the definition of a TDR, two loan relationships that were charged-off, and two loan relationships that were paid off.

Net charge-offs were $249 thousand, or 0.09% of average total loans (annualized), for the three months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to $572 thousand, or 0.22% of average total loans (annualized), for the same period of 2020. Net charge-offs were $740 thousand, or 0.09% of average total loans (annualized), for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to $1.1 million, or 0.13% of average total loans (annualized), for the same period of 2020. The allowance for credit losses to total loans ratio was 1.36% at September 30, 2021, as compared to 1.28% at December 31, 2020. In addition to the allowance for credit losses, as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had $2.7 million and $4.0 million, respectively, in unamortized discounts on acquired loans related to the acquisitions of Liberty and Virginia Partners. This discount is amortized over the life of the remaining loans.

Table of Contents

Summary of Return on Equity and Assets


	Three Months		Nine Months
	Ended		Ended		Year Ended
	September 30,		September 30,		December 31,
	2021		2021		2020
Yield on earning assets	3.56	%	3.65	%	4.04	%
Return on average assets	0.66	%	0.50	%	0.40	%
Return on average equity	7.79	%	5.86	%	4.24	%
Average equity to average assets	8.42	%	8.58	%	9.34	%

Earnings Analysis

The Company’s primary source of revenue is interest income and fees, which it earns by lending and investing the funds which are held on deposit. Because loans generally earn higher rates of interest than investment securities, the Company seeks to deploy as much of its deposit funds as possible in the form of loans to individuals, businesses, and other organizations. To ensure sufficient liquidity, the Company also maintains a portion of its deposits in cash and cash equivalents, government securities, interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions, and overnight loans of excess reserves (known as ‘‘Federal Funds Sold’’) to correspondent banks. The revenue which the Company earns (prior to deducting its overhead expenses) is essentially a function of the amount of the Company’s loans and deposits, as well as the profit margin (‘‘interest spread’’) and fee income which can be generated on these amounts.

Net income attributable to the Company was $2.7 million and $5.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, as compared to net income attributable to the Company of $1.1 million and $4.6 million, respectively, for the same periods of 2020.

The following is a summary of the results of operations by the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020

					(Dollars in Thousands)
Net interest income	$	11,935	$	10,550	$	34,584	$	32,558
Provision for (recovery of) credit losses		(30)		1,967		2,568		5,142
Provision for income taxes		839		308		1,847		1,410
Noninterest income		2,076		2,330		6,543		6,021
Noninterest expense		10,390		9,249		30,340		27,094
Total income		16,157		15,984		48,028		47,963
Total expenses		13,345		14,628		41,656		43,030
Net income		2,812		1,356		6,372		4,933
Net income attributable to Partners Bancorp		2,696		1,117		5,946		4,563
Basic earnings per share		0.152		0.063		0.335		0.256
Diluted earnings per share		0.151		0.063		0.334		0.256

Interest Income and Expense – Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020

Net interest income and net interest margin

The largest component of net income for the Company is net interest income, which is the difference between the income earned on assets, such as loans and investment securities, and interest paid on liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings, used to support such assets. Net interest income is determined by the rates earned on the Company's interest-earning assets and the rates paid on its interest-bearing liabilities, the relative amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and the degree of mismatch and the maturity and repricing characteristics of its interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.

Table of Contents

Net interest income in the third quarter of 2021 increased by $1.4 million, or 13.1%, when compared to the third quarter of 2020. The Company's net interest margin (tax equivalent basis) increased to 3.02%, representing an increase of 16 basis points for the three months ended September 30, 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020. The increase in the net interest margin (tax equivalent basis) was primarily due to an increase in the average balance of and yields earned on average loans, due primarily to higher net loan fees earned related to the forgiveness of loans originated and funded under the PPP, and lower average balances of and rates paid on average interest-bearing liabilities, which were partially offset by lower average balances of and yields earned on average investment securities. The Company’s net interest margin (tax equivalent basis) was also negatively impacted by higher average balances of interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions and federal funds sold, and were partially offset by lower average balances of cash and due from banks, each of which are lower yielding interest-earning assets. Total interest income increased by $427 thousand, or 3.1%, for the three months ended September 30, 2021 while total interest expense decreased by $958 thousand, or 30.9%, both as compared to the same period in 2020.

The most significant factors impacting net interest income during the three month period ended September 30, 2021 were as follows:

Positive Impacts:

●	Increases in average loan balances and higher loan yields, primarily due to organic loan growth, and higher net loan fees earned related to the forgiveness of loans originated and funded under the PPP;

●	Decrease in the rate paid on average interest-bearing deposit balances, primarily due to lower rates paid on average money market and time deposits, partially offset by increases in average interest-bearing deposit balances, primarily due to organic deposit growth; and

●

Decrease in average borrowings balances, primarily due to a decrease in the average balance of Federal Home Loan Bank advances resulting from maturities and payoffs of borrowings that were not replaced, a decrease in average borrowings at the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window under the PPP Liquidity Facility in which the loans under the PPP originated by the Company were previously pledged as collateral, the early redemption of $2.0 million in subordinated notes payable, net, in early July 2021, and higher rates paid. The increase in average rates paid was primarily due to the decreases in the average balances of Federal Home Loan Bank advances and borrowings at the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window under the PPP Liquidity Facility, both of which were lower cost interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by the early redemption of subordinated notes payable, which was a higher cost interest-bearing liability.

Negative Impacts:

●	Decreases in average investment securities balances and lower investment securities yields, primarily due to accelerated pre-payments on mortgage-backed investment securities and calls on higher yielding investment securities in the current low interest rate environment; and

●	Increases in average interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions and federal funds sold, partially offset by a decrease in average cash and due from banks, primarily due to deposit growth outpacing loan growth, and higher yields on each.

Loans

Average loan balances increased by $37.7 million, or 3.6%, and average yields earned increased by 0.05% to 4.86% for the three months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020. The increase in average loan balances was primarily due to organic loan growth, including average growth of approximately $38.5 million in loans related to Virginia Partners’ recent expansion into the Greater Washington market, which was partially offset by the forgiveness of loans originated and funded under the PPP. Organic loan growth continues to be negatively impacted by higher pay-offs and tempered loan demand due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in average yields earned was primarily due to higher net loan fees earned related to the forgiveness of loans originated and funded under the PPP, which was partially offset by pay-offs of higher yielding fixed rate loans, repricing of variable rate loans, and lower average yields on new loan originations, including loans originated under the PPP at an interest rate of

Table of Contents

1%. Total average loans were 69.4% of total average interest-earning assets for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to 71.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2020.

Investment securities

Average total investment securities balances decreased by $13.2 million, or 9.4%, and average yields earned decreased by 0.46% to 1.99% for the three months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020, primarily due to accelerated pre-payments on mortgage-backed investment securities and calls on higher yielding investment securities in the low interest rate environment and lower interest rates over the comparable period. The accelerated pre-payments on mortgage-backed investment securities have caused the premiums paid on these investment securities to be amortized into expense on an accelerated basis thereby reducing income and yield earned. Total average investment securities were 8.1% of total average interest-earning assets for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to 9.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2020.

Interest-bearing deposits

Average total interest-bearing deposit balances increased by $100.8 million, or 12.1%, and average rates paid decreased by 0.40% to 0.70% for the three months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020, primarily due to organic deposit growth, including average growth of approximately $52.5 million in deposits related to Virginia Partners’ recent expansion into the Greater Washington market, and a decrease in the average rate paid on money market and time deposits due to the decline in interest rates beginning late in the first quarter of 2020.

Borrowings

Interest Income and Expense – Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020

Net interest income and net interest margin

Net interest income in the first nine months of 2021 increased by $2.0 million, or 6.2%, when compared to the first nine months of 2020. The Company's net interest margin (tax equivalent basis) decreased to 3.05%, representing a decrease of 18 basis points for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020. The decrease in the net interest margin (tax equivalent basis) was primarily due to a decrease in the yields earned on average loans and investment securities, and higher average balances of interest-bearing liabilities. These margin pressures were offset by higher net loan fees earned related to the forgiveness of loans originated and funded under the PPP, increases in average loan and investment securities balances, and lower rates paid on average interest-bearing liabilities. The Company’s net interest margin (tax equivalent basis) was also negatively impacted by higher average balances of cash and due from banks, interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions and federal funds sold, which are lower yielding interest-earning assets. Total interest income decreased by $457 thousand, or 1.1%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 while total interest expense decreased by $2.5 million, or 26.5%, both as compared to the same period in 2020.

Table of Contents

The most significant factors impacting net interest income during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 were as follows:

Positive Impacts:

●	Increases in average loan balances, primarily due to organic loan growth and loans originated and funded under the PPP, and higher net loan fees earned related to the forgiveness of loans originated and funded under the PPP, partially offset by lower loan yields;

●	Increases in average investment securities balances, primarily due to management of the investment securities portfolio in light of the Company's liquidity needs, partially offset by lower investment securities yields;

●	Decrease in the rate paid on average interest-bearing deposit balances, primarily due to lower rates paid on average money market and time deposits, partially offset by increases in average interest-bearing deposit balances, primarily due to organic deposit growth; and

●

Decrease in average borrowings balances, primarily due to a decrease in the average balance of Federal Home Loan Bank advances resulting from maturities and payoffs of borrowings that were not replaced, a decrease in average borrowings at the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window under the PPP Liquidity Facility in which the loans under the PPP originated by the Company were previously pledged as collateral, the early redemption of $2.0 million in subordinated notes payable, net, in early July 2021, which were partially offset by the issuance of $18.1 million in subordinated notes payable, net, in late June 2020, and higher rates paid. The increase in average rates paid was primarily due to the issuance of subordinated notes payable being a higher cost interest-bearing liability and the decreases in the average balances of Federal Home Loan Bank advances and borrowings at the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window under the PPP Liquidity Facility, which were both lower cost interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by the early redemption of subordinated notes payable, which was a higher cost interest-bearing liability.

Negative Impacts:

●	Increases in average cash and due from banks, interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions and federal funds sold, primarily due to deposit growth outpacing loan growth, and lower yields on each.

Loans

Average loan balances increased by $41.3 million, or 4.0%, and average yields earned decreased by 0.12% to 4.90% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020. The increase in average loan balances was primarily due to organic loan growth, including average growth of approximately $38.5 million in loans related to Virginia Partners’ recent expansion into the Greater Washington market, and loans originated and funded under the PPP, which were partially offset by the forgiveness of loans originated and funded under the PPP. Organic loan growth continues to be negatively impacted by higher pay-offs and tempered loan demand due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The decrease in average yields earned was primarily due to pay-offs of higher yielding fixed rate loans, repricing of variable rate loans, and lower average yields on new loan originations, including loans originated under the PPP at an interest rate of 1%, which were partially offset by higher net loan fees earned related to the forgiveness of loans originated and funded under the PPP. Total average loans were 70.8% of total average interest-earning assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to 77.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Investment securities

Average total investment securities balances increased by $3.9 million, or 3.1%, and average yields earned decreased by 0.85% to 1.86% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020, primarily due to management of the investment securities portfolio in light of the Company's liquidity needs and lower interest rates over the comparable period. In addition, the decrease in average yields earned was driven by accelerated prepayments on mortgage-backed investment securities in the low interest rate environment. These prepayments have caused the premiums paid on these investment securities to be amortized into expense on an accelerated basis thereby reducing income and yield earned. Total average investment securities were 8.5% of total average interest-earning assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to 9.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Table of Contents

Interest-bearing deposits

Average total interest-bearing deposit balances increased by $112.5 million, or 14.3%, and average rates paid decreased by 0.46% to 0.78% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020, primarily due to organic deposit growth, including average growth of approximately $52.5 million in deposits related to Virginia Partners’ recent expansion into the Greater Washington market, and a decrease in the average rate paid on money market and time deposits due to the decline in interest rates beginning late in the first quarter of 2020.

Borrowings

Average total borrowings decreased by $71.1 million, or 53.5%, and average rates paid increased by 1.49% to 3.51% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020. The decrease in average total borrowings balances was primarily due to a decrease in the average balance of Federal Home Loan Bank advances resulting from maturities and payoffs of borrowings that were not replaced, a decrease in average borrowings at the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window under the PPP Liquidity Facility in which the loans under the PPP originated by the Company were previously pledged as collateral, and the early redemption of $2.0 million in subordinated notes payable, net, in early July 2021, which were partially offset by the issuance of $18.1 million in subordinated notes payable, net, in late June 2020. The increase in average rates paid was primarily due to the issuance of subordinated notes payable, which is a higher cost interest-bearing liability, and the decreases in the average balances of Federal Home Loan Bank advances and borrowings at the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window under the PPP Liquidity Facility, which were both lower cost interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by the early redemption of subordinated notes payable, which was a higher cost interest-bearing liability.

Interest earned on assets and interest paid on liabilities is significantly influenced by market factors, specifically interest rate targets established by the Federal Reserve.

The Federal Open Markets Committee (“FOMC”) lowered Federal Funds target rates for the first time in 11 years on July 31, 2019 and then again in September 2019 and October 2019, for a combined decrease of 75 basis points during 2019. In response to market volatility related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FOMC again lowered Federal Funds target rates twice in March 2020, for a combined decrease of 150 basis points. The FOMC’s current Federal Funds target rate range is currently 0% to 0.25%. As a consequence, long-term interest rates have decreased. The Company anticipates that these actions by the FOMC will continue to put downward pressure on its net interest margin. In general, the Company believes interest rate increases lead to improved net interest margins whereas interest rate decreases result in correspondingly lower net interest margins.

The following tables depict, for the periods indicated, certain information related to the average balance sheet and average yields earned on assets and average costs paid on liabilities for the Company. Such yields and costs are derived by dividing income or expense by the average balance of the corresponding assets or liabilities. Average balances have been derived from daily averages.

Table of Contents


	Three Months Ended						Three Months Ended
	September 30, 2021						September 30, 2020
(Dollars in Thousands)	Average				Yield		Average				Yield
(Unaudited)	Balance		Interest		(Annualized)		Balance		Interest		(Annualized)
Assets
Cash & Due From Banks	$	195,066	$	71	0.14	%	$	202,812	$	48	0.09	%
Interest Bearing Deposits From Banks		73,177		24	0.13	%		34,239		6	0.07	%
Taxable Securities (1)		92,694		364	1.56	%		103,629		538	2.07	%
Tax-exempt Securities (2)		34,512		274	3.15	%		36,816		328	3.54	%
Total Investment Securities (1) (2)		127,206		638	1.99	%		140,445		866	2.45	%
Federal Funds Sold		86,472		25	0.11	%		38,028		5	0.05	%
Loans: (3)
Commercial and Industrial (4)		152,582		2,179	5.67	%		190,733		2,045	4.27	%
Real Estate (4)		917,056		10,987	4.75	%		843,266		10,483	4.95	%
Consumer (4)		2,962		42	5.63	%		4,374		64	5.82	%
Keyline Equity (4)		17,183		155	3.58	%		15,259		139	3.62	%
Visa Credit Card		—		(2)	—	%		227		3	5.26	%
State and Political		981		12	4.85	%		529		9	6.77	%
Keyline Credit		123		6	19.35	%		150		7	18.57	%
Other Loans		2,355		4	0.67	%		1,024		6	2.33	%
Total Loans (2)		1,093,242		13,383	4.86	%		1,055,562		12,756	4.81	%
Allowance For Credit Losses		15,219						10,754
Unamortized Discounts on Acquired Loans		3,055						4,914
Total Loans, Net		1,074,968						1,039,894
Other Assets		72,665						65,988
Total Assets/Interest Income	$	1,629,554	$	14,141			$	1,521,406	$	13,681

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Deposits In Domestic Offices
Non-interest Bearing Demand	$	498,646	$	—	—	%	$	384,796	$	—	—	%
Interest Bearing Demand		135,841		105	0.31	%		109,033		122	0.45	%
Money Market Accounts		245,085		150	0.24	%		176,221		223	0.50	%
Savings Accounts		131,415		52	0.16	%		107,780		44	0.16	%
All Time Deposits		419,020		1,332	1.26	%		437,560		1,899	1.73	%
Total Interest Bearing Deposits		931,361		1,639	0.70	%		830,594		2,288	1.10	%
Total Deposits		1,430,007		—				1,215,390		—
Borrowings		27,020		135	1.98	%		138,030		398	1.15	%
Notes Payable		22,787		357	6.22	%		25,131		402	6.36	%
Lease Liability		2,174		15	2.74	%		2,291		16	2.78	%
Other Liabilities		10,368		—				5,825		—
Stockholder's Equity		137,198		—				134,739		—
Total Liabilities & Equity/Interest Expense	$	1,629,554	$	2,146			$	1,521,406	$	3,104

Earning Assets/Interest Income (2)	$	1,575,163	$	14,141	3.56	%	$	1,471,086	$	13,681	3.70	%
Interest Bearing Liabilities/Interest Expense	$	983,342	$	2,146	0.87	%	$	996,046	$	3,104	1.24	%
Net interest income (5)			$	11,995					$	10,577

Earning Assets/Interest Expense					0.54	%					0.84	%
Net Interest Spread (2)					2.70	%					2.46	%
Net Interest Margin (2)					3.02	%					2.86	%

(1)	Yields on securities available-for-sale have been calculated on the basis of historical cost and do not give effect to changes in the fair value of those securities, which is reflected as a component of stockholder's equity.

(2)

Presented on a taxable-equivalent basis using the statutory income tax rate of 21.0%. Taxable equivalent adjustment of $58 thousand and $2 thousand are included in the calculation of tax exempt income for investment interest income and loan interest income, respectively for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and $87 thousand and $2 thousand respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2020.

(3)	Loans placed on nonaccrual are included in average balances.

(4)	Yields do not include the average balance of the fair value adjustment for pools of non-credit impaired loans acquired or discounts on credit impaired loans acquired.

(5)	Net interest income on the consolidated statements of income includes fees and charges on loans of $62 thousand for the three month period ended September 30, 2020, which are not reflected above.

Table of Contents


	Nine Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2021						September 30, 2020
(Dollars in Thousands)	Average				Yield		Average				Yield
(Unaudited)	Balance		Interest		(Annualized)		Balance		Interest		(Annualized)
Assets
Cash & Due From Banks	$	171,826	$	138	0.11	%	$	113,150	$	121	0.14	%
Interest Bearing Deposits From Banks		81,483		61	0.10	%		31,967		101	0.42	%
Taxable Securities (1)		94,503		962	1.36	%		89,828		1,593	2.37	%
Tax‑exempt Securities (2)		34,863		838	3.21	%		35,591		955	3.58	%
Total Investment Securities (1) (2)		129,366		1,800	1.86	%		125,419		2,548	2.71	%
Federal Funds Sold		62,948		44	0.09	%		35,702		117	0.44	%
Loans: (3)
Commercial and Industrial (4)		159,372		7,195	6.04	%		164,446		5,515	4.48	%
Real Estate (4)		890,596		31,771	4.77	%		851,609		32,811	5.15	%
Consumer (4)		3,232		143	5.92	%		4,477		202	6.03	%
Keyline Equity (4)		16,610		449	3.61	%		16,011		479	4.00	%
Visa Credit Card		64		1	2.09	%		231		11	6.36	%
State and Political		755		30	5.31	%		557		28	6.71	%
Keyline Credit		128		24	25.07	%		90		24	35.62	%
Other Loans		9,910		12	0.16	%		1,917		11	0.77	%
Total Loans (2)		1,080,667		39,625	4.90	%		1,039,338		39,081	5.02	%
Allowance For Credit Losses		14,741						8,761
Unamortized Discounts on Acquired Loans		3,464						5,373
Total Loans, Net		1,062,462						1,025,204
Other Assets		71,840						59,358
Total Assets/Interest Income	$	1,579,925	$	41,668			$	1,390,800	$	41,968

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Deposits In Domestic Offices
Non‑interest Bearing Demand	$	470,019	$	—	—	%	$	326,746	$	—	—	%
Interest Bearing Demand		123,706		315	0.34	%		94,320		296	0.42	%
Money Market Accounts		231,035		509	0.29	%		156,985		652	0.55	%
Savings Accounts		124,520		147	0.16	%		98,407		141	0.19	%
All Time Deposits		422,052		4,263	1.35	%		439,066		6,242	1.90	%
Total Interest Bearing Deposits		901,313		5,234	0.78	%		788,778		7,331	1.24	%
Total Deposits		1,371,332		—				1,115,524		—
Borrowings		37,604		484	1.72	%		119,228		1,348	1.51	%
Notes Payable		24,098		1,136	6.30	%		13,590		656	6.45	%
Lease Liability		2,203		47	2.85	%		2,318		49	2.82	%
Other Liabilities		9,058		—				6,734		—
Stockholder's Equity		135,630		—				133,406		—
Total Liabilities & Equity/Interest Expense	$	1,579,925	$	6,901			$	1,390,800	$	9,384

Earning Assets/Interest Income (2)	$	1,526,290	$	41,668	3.65	%	$	1,345,576	$	41,968	4.17	%
Interest Bearing Liabilities/Interest Expense	$	965,218	$	6,901	0.96	%	$	923,914	$	9,384	1.36	%
Net interest income (5)			$	34,767					$	32,584

Earning Assets/Interest Expense					0.60	%					0.93	%
Net Interest Spread (2)					2.69	%					2.81	%
Net Interest Margin (2)					3.05	%					3.23	%

(1)	Yields on securities available-for-sale have been calculated on the basis of historical cost and do not give effect to changes in the fair value of those securities, which is reflected as a component of stockholder's equity.

(2)

Presented on a taxable-equivalent basis using the statutory income tax rate of 21.0%. Taxable equivalent adjustment of $177 thousand and $6 thousand are included in the calculation of tax exempt income for investment interest income and loan interest income, respectively for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and $253 thousand and $7 thousand respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

(3)	Loans placed on nonaccrual are included in average balances.

(4)	Yields do not include the average balance of the fair value adjustment for pools of non-credit impaired loans acquired or discounts on credit impaired loans acquired.

(5)	Net interest income on the consolidated statements of income includes fees and charges on loans of $234 thousand for the nine month period ended September 30, 2020, which are not reflected above.

Table of Contents

The level of net interest income is affected primarily by variations in the volume and mix of these interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, as well as changes in interest rates. The following tables show the effect that these factors had on the interest earned from the Company’s interest-earning assets and interest paid on its interest-bearing liabilities for the period indicated.

Rate and Volume Analysis

Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 Versus September 30, 2020

(Dollars in Thousands)


	Increase (Decrease) Due to
	Volume		Rate		Net
Earning Assets
Loans (1)	$	454	$	173	$	627
Investment securities
Taxable		(57)		(117)		(174)
Exempt from Federal income tax		(21)		(33)		(54)
Federal funds sold		6		14		20
Other interest income		7		34		41
Total interest income		389		71		460
Interest Bearing Liabilities
Interest bearing deposits		218		(867)		(649)
Notes payable and leases		(38)		(8)		(46)
Funds purchased		(320)		57		(263)
Total Interest Expense		(140)		(818)		(958)
Net Interest Income	$	529	$	889	$	1,418

(1)	Nonaccrual loans are included in average balances and do not have a material effect on the average yield.

Rate and Volume Analysis

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 Versus September 30, 2020

(Dollars in Thousands)


	Increase (Decrease) Due to
	Volume		Rate		Net
Earning Assets
Loans (1)	$	1,555	$	(1,011)	$	544
Investment securities
Taxable		83		(714)		(631)
Exempt from Federal income tax		(20)		(97)		(117)
Federal funds sold		89		(162)		(73)
Other interest income		166		(189)		(23)
Total interest income		1,873		(2,173)		(300)
Interest Bearing Liabilities
Interest bearing deposits		1,045		(3,142)		(2,097)
Notes payable and leases		461		17		478
Funds purchased		(923)		59		(864)
Total Interest Expense		583		(3,066)		(2,483)
Net Interest Income	$	1,290	$	893	$	2,183

(1)	Nonaccrual loans are included in average balances and do not have a material effect on the average yield.

Table of Contents

Interest Sensitivity. The Company monitors and manages the pricing and maturity of its assets and liabilities in order to diminish the potential adverse impact that changes in interest rates could have on its net interest income. The Company also performs asset/liability modeling to assess the impact varying interest rates and balance sheet mix assumptions will have on net interest income. Interest rate sensitivity can be managed by repricing assets or liabilities, selling investment securities available for sale, replacing an asset or liability at maturity, or adjusting the interest rate during the life of an asset or liability. Managing the amount of assets and liabilities repricing in the same time interval helps to hedge the risk and minimize the impact on net interest income of rising or falling interest rates. The Company evaluates interest sensitivity risk and then formulates guidelines regarding asset generation and repricing, funding sources and pricing, and off-balance sheet commitments in order to decrease interest rate sensitivity risk.

At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company was asset sensitive within the one-year time frame when looking at a repricing gap analysis. The cumulative gap, in an unchanged interest rate environment, as a percentage of total assets up to one year is 28.0% and 23.0%, respectively, at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. A positive gap indicates more assets than liabilities are repricing within the indicated time frame. Management believes there is more upside potential than downside risk and, based on the current and projected interest rate environment, management expects to see net interest income rise in the future.

Provision for (Reversal of) Credit Losses and Allowance for Credit Losses

The Company has developed policies and procedures for evaluating the overall quality of its credit portfolio and for timely identifying potential problem loans. Management's judgment as to the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses is based upon a number of assumptions about future events which it believes to be reasonable, but which may not prove to be accurate. Thus, there can be no assurance that loan charge-offs in future periods will not exceed the allowance for credit losses or that additional increases in the allowance for credit losses will not be required.

The Company's allowance for credit losses consists of two parts. The first part is determined in accordance with authoritative guidance issued by the FASB regarding the allowance for credit losses. The Company's determination of this part of the allowance for credit losses is based upon quantitative and qualitative factors. A loan loss history based upon the prior three years is utilized in determining the appropriate allowance for credit losses. Historical loss factors are determined by criticized and uncriticized loans by loan type. These historical loss factors are applied to the loans by loan type to determine an indicated allowance for credit losses. The historical loss factors may also be modified based upon other qualitative factors including, but not limited to, local and national economic conditions, trends of delinquent loans, changes in lending policies and underwriting standards, concentrations, and management's knowledge of the loan portfolio.

The second part of the allowance for credit losses is determined in accordance with guidance issued by the FASB regarding impaired loans. A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due. Loans that experience insignificant payment delays and payment shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired. Management determines the significance of payment delays and payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower's prior payment record, and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed. Impairment is measured on a loan by loan basis. Impaired loans not deemed collateral dependent are analyzed according to the ultimate repayment source, whether that is cash flow from the borrower, guarantor or some other source of repayment. Impaired loans are deemed collateral dependent if in the Company's opinion the ultimate source of repayment will be generated from the liquidation of collateral.

The sum of the two parts constitutes management's best estimate of an appropriate allowance for credit losses. When the estimated allowance for credit losses is determined, it is presented to the Company's Board of Directors for review and approval on a quarterly basis.

Table of Contents

At September 30, 2021, the Company’s allowance for credit losses was $15.0 million, or 1.4% of total outstanding loans. At December 31, 2020, the Company's allowance for credit losses was $13.2 million, or 1.3% of total outstanding loans. The increase in the allowance for credit losses and as a percentage of total outstanding loans as of September 30, 2021, as compared to December 31, 2020, was primarily due to organic loan growth, loans acquired in the Virginia Partners acquisition that have converted from acquired to originated status, the deterioration in asset quality and increased specific reserves of two loan relationships, the deterioration in asset quality and the establishment of a specific reserve on one loan relationship that has been individually evaluated for impairment, and an increase in historical loss rates, which were partially offset by a reduction of qualitative adjustment factors that had previously been increased in the allowance for credit losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty in the economic environment.

The (reversal of) credit losses in the third quarter of 2021 was $30 thousand, a decrease of $2.0 million, or 101.5%, when compared to the provision for credit losses of $2.0 million in the third quarter of 2020. The (reversal of) credit losses in the third quarter of 2021, as compared to the provision for credit losses in the same period of 2020, was primarily due to a reduction of qualitative adjustment factors that had previously been increased in the allowance for credit losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty in the economic environment, which was partially offset by the deterioration in asset quality and establishment of a specific reserve on one loan relationship that has been individually evaluated for impairment, an increase in historical loss rates, loans acquired in the Virginia Partners acquisition that have converted from acquired to originated status, and organic loan growth.

The provision for credit losses in the first nine months of 2021 was $2.6 million, a decrease of approximately $2.6 million, or 50.1%, when compared to the provision for credit losses of $5.1 million in the first nine months of 2020. The decrease in the provision for credit losses during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period of 2020, was primarily due to a reduction of qualitative adjustment factors that had previously been increased in the allowance for credit losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty in the economic environment, which was partially offset by the deterioration in asset quality and increased specific reserves of two loan relationships, the deterioration in asset quality and the establishment of a specific reserve on one loan relationship that has been individually evaluated for impairment, an increase in historical loss rates, loans acquired in the Virginia Partners acquisition that have converted from acquired to originated status, and organic loan growth.

The (reversal of) provision for credit losses during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, as well as the allowance for credit losses as of September 30, 2021, represents management’s best estimate of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ability of the Company’s borrowers to repay their loans. Management continues to carefully assess the exposure of the Company’s loan portfolio to COVID-19 pandemic related factors, economic trends and their potential effect on asset quality. As of September 30, 2021, the Company’s delinquencies and nonperforming assets had not been materially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

The Company discontinues accrual of interest on loans when management believes, after considering economic and business conditions and collection efforts that a borrower’s financial condition is such that the collection of interest is doubtful. Generally, the Company will place a delinquent loan in nonaccrual status when the loan becomes 90 days or more past due. At the time a loan is placed in nonaccrual status, all interest which has been accrued on the loan but remains unpaid is reversed and deducted from earnings as a reduction of reported interest income. No additional interest is accrued on the loan balance until the collection of both principal and interest becomes reasonably certain.

Table of Contents

The following tables illustrate the Company’s past due and nonaccrual loans at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

Past Due and Nonaccrual Loans

(Dollars in Thousands)

At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020


	30 - 89 Days		Greater than 90 Days		Total
September 30, 2021	Past Due		Past Due		Past Due		NonAccrual
Real Estate Mortgage
Construction and land development	$	—	$	598	$	598	$	598
Residential real estate		263		504		767		1,533
Nonresidential		4,237		534		4,771		4,131
Home equity loans		62		—		62		32
Commercial		—		77		77		463
Consumer and other loans		4		—		4		—
TOTAL	$	4,566	$	1,713	$	6,279	$	6,757


	30 - 89 Days		Greater than 90 Days		Total
December 31, 2020	Past Due		Past Due		Past Due		NonAccrual
Real Estate Mortgage
Construction and land development	$	708	$	175	$	883	$	175
Residential real estate		2,764		679		3,443		2,022
Nonresidential		3,792		2,377		6,169		2,170
Home equity loans		80		54		134		54
Commercial		255		489		744		489
Consumer and other loans		7		2		9		—
TOTAL	$	7,606	$	3,776	$	11,382	$	4,910

Total nonaccrual loans at September 30, 2021 were $6.8 million, which reflects an increase of approximately $1.8 million from $4.9 million at December 31, 2020. Management believes the relationships on nonaccrual were adequately reserved at September 30, 2021. TDR’s not past due more than 90 days or on nonaccrual at September 30, 2021 amounted to $3.9 million, as compared to $4.9 million at December 31, 2020. This decrease was primarily due to four loan relationships that no longer met the definition of a TDR and pay-downs of principal loan balances during the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Total TDR’s increased $1.2 million to $7.9 million at September 30, 2021, compared to $6.7 million at December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily due to one loan relationship that was classified as a TDR during the first nine months of 2021, partially offset by four loan relationships that no longer met the definition of a TDR, two loan relationships that were charged-off, and two loan relationships that were paid off.

Nonperforming assets, defined as nonaccrual loans, loans past due 90 days or more and accruing, and OREO, net, at September 30, 2021 was $8.1 million compared to $7.6 million at December 31, 2020. The Company's ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets was 0.49% at September 30, 2021 compared to 0.50% at December 31, 2020. As noted above, there was an increase in nonaccrual loans during the nine months ended September 30, 2021. This increase was primarily due to the deteriorated financial condition of loan relationships totaling approximately $4.6 million, which was partially offset by pay-offs of approximately $1.7 million, charge-offs of approximately $481 thousand, normal paydowns of approximately $272 thousand, and the improved financial condition of loan relationships totaling approximately $276 thousand. Loans past due 90 days or more and accruing decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 2021. This decrease was primarily due to Delmarva selling its VISA credit card portfolio during the first quarter of 2021. OREO, net decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 by $1.4 million. There were two properties with aggregate values of $1.1 million that were sold at a gain of $111 thousand during the first nine months of 2021, and valuation adjustments of $229 thousand were recorded on three properties with values of $1.5 million during the first nine months of 2021.

Table of Contents

It is possible that the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic disruption related to it will negatively impact the Company’s financial position and results of operations during the fourth quarter of 2021. The Company may experience deterioration in asset quality, increased levels of charge-offs, and an increased level of provision for credit losses.

The following tables provide additional information on the Company’s nonperforming assets at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020.

Nonperforming Assets

At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020

(Dollars in thousands)


	September 30,			December 31,
	2021			2020
Nonperforming assets:
Nonaccrual loans	$	6,757		$	4,910
Loans past due 90 days or more and accruing		—			2
Total nonperforming loans (NPLs)	$	6,757		$	4,912
Other real estate owned (OREO)		1,303			2,677
Total nonperforming assets (NPAs)	$	8,060		$	7,589
Performing TDR's and TDR's 30-89 days past due	$	5,577		$	4,877
NPLs/Total Assets		0.41	%		0.32	%
NPAs/Total Assets		0.49	%		0.50	%
NPAs and TDRs/Total Assets		0.83	%		0.82	%
Allowance for credit losses/NPLs		222.45	%		268.79	%

Nonperforming Loans by Type

At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020

(Dollars in thousands)


	September 30,		December 31,
	2021		2020
Real Estate Mortgage
Construction and land development	$	598	$	175
Residential real estate		1,533		2,022
Nonresidential		4,131		2,170
Home equity loans		32		54
Commercial		463		489
Consumer and other loans		—		2
Total	$	6,757	$	4,912

Table of Contents

The following table provides data related to loan balances and the allowance for credit losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and the year ended December 31, 2020.

Allowance for Credit Losses Data

(Dollars in Thousands)

At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020


	September 30,			December 31,
	2021			2020
Average loans outstanding	$	1,080,667		$	1,043,678
Total loans outstanding		1,105,200			1,035,505
Total nonaccrual loans		6,757			4,910
Net loans charged off		740			995
Provision for credit losses		2,568			6,894
Allowance for credit losses		15,031			13,203
Allowance as a percentage of total loans outstanding		1.4	%		1.3	%
Net loans charged off to average loans outstanding		0.1	%		0.1	%
Nonaccrual loans as a percentage of total loans outstanding		0.6	%		0.5	%

The following table represents the activity of the allowance for credit losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 by loan type:

Allowance for Credit Losses and Recorded Investments in Financing Receivables

(Dollars in Thousands)


	September 30, 2021
	Real Estate Mortgage
	Construction
	and Land		Residential								Consumer
	Development		Real Estate		Nonresidential		Home Equity		Commercial		and Other		Unallocated		Total
Quarter Ended
Beginning Balance	$	1,038	$	2,206	$	8,654	$	228	$	1,803	$	32	$	1,348	$	15,309
Charge-offs		—		(11)		(138)		—		(91)		(23)		—		(263)
Recoveries		—		6		—		—		2		7		—		15
Provision		88		(50)		565		40		187		21		(881)		(30)
Ending Balance	$	1,126	$	2,151	$	9,081	$	268	$	1,901	$	37	$	467	$	15,031
Nine Months Ended
Beginning Balance	$	903	$	2,351	$	7,584	$	271	$	1,943	$	37	$	114	$	13,203
Charge-offs		—		(39)		(570)		(6)		(185)		(46)		—		(846)
Recoveries		1		22		53		—		11		19		—		106
Provision		222		(183)		2,014		3		132		27		353		2,568
Ending Balance	$	1,126	$	2,151	$	9,081	$	268	$	1,901	$	37	$	467	$	15,031

Table of Contents


	September 30, 2020
	Real Estate Mortgage
	Construction
	and Land		Residential								Consumer
	Development		Real Estate		Nonresidential		Home Equity		Commercial		and Other		Unallocated		Total
Quarter Ended
Beginning Balance	$	898		1,893		5,487		184		1,430		20		89	$	10,001
Charge-offs		—		—		(38)		—		(497)		(55)		—		(590)
Recoveries		—		2		6		—		1		9		—		18
Provision		9		39		682		32		655		46		504		1,967
Ending Balance	$	907	$	1,934	$	6,137	$	216	$	1,589	$	20	$	593	$	11,396
Nine Months Ended
Beginning Balance	$	602		1,380		4,073		142		826		14		267	$	7,304
Charge-offs		—		(25)		(163)		(13)		(828)		(103)		—		(1,132)
Recoveries		1		10		10		10		20		31		—		82
Provision		304		569		2,217		77		1,571		78		326		5,142
Ending Balance	$	907	$	1,934	$	6,137	$	216	$	1,589	$	20	$	593	$	11,396

The following table provides information related to the allocation of the allowance for credit losses by loan category, the related loan balance for each category, and the percentage of loan balance to total loans by category:

Allocation of the Allowance for Credit Losses

At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020

(Dollars in thousands)


	September 30,						December 31,
	2021						2020
					Percent						Percent
					of						of
	Loan				Total		Loan				Total
	Balances		Allocation		Loans		Balances		Allocation		Loans
Real Estate Mortgage
Construction and land development	$	103,133	$	1,126	9	%	$	74,706	$	903	7	%
Residential real estate		209,896		2,151	19	%		199,349		2,351	19	%
Nonresidential		618,277		9,081	57	%		569,745		7,584	55	%
Home equity loans		33,500		268	3	%		34,226		271	3	%
Commercial		135,615		1,901	12	%		152,798		1,943	15	%
Consumer and other loans		4,779		37	0	%		4,681		37	0	%
Unallocated		—		467	—	%				114	—	%
	$	1,105,200	$	15,031	100	%	$	1,035,505	$	13,203	100	%

In March 2020, the five federal bank regulatory agencies and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors issued joint guidance with respect to loan modifications for borrowers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (the “Joint Guidance”). The Joint Guidance encouraged banks, savings associations, and credit unions to make loan modifications for borrowers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and assured those financial institutions that they will not (i) receive supervisory criticism for such prudent loan modifications and (ii) be required by examiners to automatically categorize COVID-19-related loan modifications as TDRs. The federal banking regulators confirmed with FASB that short-term loan modifications made on a good faith basis in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to borrowers who were current (i.e., less than 30 days past due on contractual payments) prior to any loan modification are not TDRs.

In addition, Section 4013 of the CARES Act provides banks, savings associations, and credit unions with the ability to make loan modifications related to the COVID-19 pandemic without categorizing the loans as a TDR or conducting the analysis to make the determination, which is intended to streamline the loan modification process. Any such suspension is effective for the term of the loan modification; however, the suspension is only permitted for loan modifications made during the effective period and only for those loans that were not more than thirty (30) days past due as of December 31, 2019.

Table of Contents

In addition, in an effort to support the Company’s borrowers in their times of need, the Company has granted loan payment deferrals to certain borrowers, who were current on their payments prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, on a short-term basis of three to six months. At the peak, which occurred during the second quarter of 2020, the Company, on a consolidated basis, had approved loan payment deferrals or payments of interest only for 548 loans totaling $286.6 million, which represented approximately 28.8% of total loan balances outstanding. As of September 30, 2021, all of the loan balances that were approved by the Company, on a consolidated basis, for loan payment deferrals or payments of interest only have either resumed regular payments or have been paid off.

The Company continues to closely monitor credit risk and its exposure to increased loan losses resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its borrowers. The Company has identified nine specific higher risk industries to monitor the credit exposure of during this crisis.

The table below identifies these higher risk industries and the Company’s exposure to them as of September 30, 2021:


As of September 30, 2021
		Loan balances		As a percentage of
		outstanding	Number of loans	total loan balances
Higher Risk Industries		(dollars in thousands)	outstanding	outstanding (%)*
Hospitality (Hotels)	$	84,513	36	7.69	%
Amusement Services		10,100	8	0.92
Restaurants		53,876	67	4.90
Retail Commercial Real Estate		47,396	43	4.31
Movie Theatres		8,363	3	0.76
Aviation		—	—	—
Charter Boats/Cruises		1,484	2	0.13
Commuter Services		130	5	0.01
Manufacturing/Distribution		2,077	6	0.19
Totals	$	207,939	170	18.91	%

* Excludes loans originated under the PPP of the SBA.

As of September 30, 2021, there were no loans within these higher risk industries with respect to which the Company has granted loan payment deferrals.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest Income. The Company's primary source of noninterest income is service charges on deposit accounts, mortgage banking income and other income. Sources of other noninterest income include ATM, merchant card and credit card fees, debit card income, safe deposit box income, earnings on bank owned life insurance policies and investment fees and commissions.

Noninterest income during the three months ended September 30, 2021 decreased by $254 thousand, or 10.9%, when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2020. Key changes in the components of noninterest income for the three months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020, are as follows:

●

Service charges on deposit accounts increased by $28 thousand, or 14.3%, due primarily to increases in overdraft fees as a result of the easing of restrictions and the lifting of lockdowns in the Company’s markets of operation and Virginia Partners no longer automatically waiving overdraft fees which was previously done in an effort to provide all necessary financial support and services to its customers and communities, both as related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as compared to the same period of 2020;

●

Gains on sales and calls of investment securities increased by $3 thousand, or 100.0%, due primarily to Delmarva recording gains on sales or calls of investment securities during the third quarter of 2021, as compared to recording no gains on sales and calls of investment securities during the same period of 2020;

Table of Contents

●	Mortgage banking income decreased by $348 thousand, or 26.7%, due primarily to Virginia Partners’ majority owned subsidiary Johnson Mortgage Company, LLC having a lower volume of loan closings as compared to the same period in 2020;

●	Gains on disposal of other assets decreased by less than $1 thousand as a result of Delmarva recording a gain on the disposal of information technology assets during the three months ended September 30, 2020 that was not present during the three months ended September 30, 2021; and

●

Other income increased by $63 thousand, or 7.6%, due primarily to increases in debit card income, merchant card and ATM fees, and Delmarva recording higher earnings on bank owned life insurance policies due to additional purchases made in 2021, which were partially offset by Virginia Partners recording lower fees from its participation in a loan hedging program with a correspondent bank.

Noninterest income during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 increased by $523 thousand, or 8.7%, when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Key changes in the components of noninterest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020, are as follows:

●	Service charges on deposit accounts decreased by $53 thousand, or 8.4%, due primarily to decreases in overdraft and nonsufficient fund fees as a result of the significant increase in deposit balances;

●

Gains on sales and calls of investment securities decreased by $546 thousand, or 96.1%, due primarily to Delmarva recording $3 thousand in gains on sales or calls of investment securities during the first nine months of 2021, as compared to recording $187 thousand in gains on sales and calls of investment securities during the same period of 2020. In addition, Virginia Partners recorded gains of $20 thousand on the sales and calls of investment securities during the first nine months of 2021, as compared to recording $381 thousand in gains on sales and calls of investment securities during the same period of 2020;

●	Mortgage banking income increased by $476 thousand, or 18.4%, due primarily to Virginia Partners’ majority owned subsidiary Johnson Mortgage Company, LLC having a higher volume of loan closings as compared to the same period in 2020;

●

Gains on sales of other assets increased by $2 thousand due primarily to Delmarva selling its VISA credit card portfolio during the first quarter of 2021, as compared to Delmarva recording a loss of less than $1 thousand on the disposal of information technology assets during the third quarter of 2020; and

●

Other income increased by $644 thousand, or 28.8%, due primarily to higher mortgage division fees at Delmarva, increases in debit card income, merchant card and ATM fees, Delmarva recording higher earnings on bank owned life insurance policies due to additional purchases made in 2021, and Virginia Partners recording higher fees from its participation in a loan hedging program with a correspondent bank.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest Expense. Noninterest expense includes all expenses with the exception of those paid for interest on deposits and borrowings. Significant expense items included in this component are salaries and employee benefits, premises and equipment and other operating expenses.

Noninterest expense during the three months ended September 30, 2021 increased by $1.1 million, or 12.3%, when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2020. Key changes in the components of noninterest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020, are as follows:

●

Salaries and employee benefits increased by $713 thousand, or 13.9%, primarily due to increases related to staffing changes, including expenses associated with Virginia Partners’ new key hires and expansion into the Greater Washington market and Delmarva opening its new full-service branch at 26^th Street in Ocean City, Maryland, merit increases, stock-based compensation expense and benefit costs. In addition, due to the decrease in mortgage banking income from Virginia Partners’ majority owned subsidiary Johnson Mortgage Company, LLC, as well as lower mortgage division fees at Delmarva, salaries and employee benefits decreased due to a decrease in commissions expense paid;

Table of Contents

●

Premises and equipment increased by $164 thousand, or 14.2%, primarily due to increases related to Delmarva opening its new information technology and training center during the fourth quarter of 2020 and its new full-service branch at 26^th Street in Ocean City, Maryland during the second quarter of 2021, repairs and maintenance, purchases of equipment and furniture that did not qualify for capitalization, and software amortization associated with Virginia Partners’ recently completed core conversion;

●	Amortization of core deposit intangible decreased by $28 thousand, or 16.1%, primarily due to lower amortization related to the $2.7 million and $1.5 million, respectively, in core deposit intangibles recognized in the Virginia Partners and Liberty Bell Bank acquisitions;

●

Losses on other real estate owned, net increased by $4 thousand, or 11.5%, primarily due to a valuation adjustment being recorded on one property during the third quarter of 2021, as compared to no valuation adjustment being recorded during the same period of 2020, and higher expenses related to other real estate owned, which were partially offset by a gain on the sale of one property during the third quarter of 2021, as compared to no gain being recorded during the same period of 2020; and

●

Other operating expenses increased by $288 thousand, or 10.4%, primarily due to higher expenses related to FDIC insurance assessments, director fees, legal, consulting, accounting and other professional fees, printing and supplies, telephone and data circuits, travel and entertainment, other losses and debit/credit/merchant card transactions.

Noninterest expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 increased by $3.2 million, or 12.0%, when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Key changes in the components of noninterest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020, are as follows:

●

Salaries and employee benefits increased by $2.1 million, or 14.0%, primarily due to increases related to staffing changes, including expenses associated with Virginia Partners’ new key hires and expansion into the Greater Washington market and Delmarva opening its new full-service branch at 26^th Street in Ocean City, Maryland, merit increases, stock-based compensation expense and benefit costs. In addition, due to the increase in mortgage banking income from Virginia Partners’ majority owned subsidiary Johnson Mortgage Company, LLC, as well as higher mortgage division fees at Delmarva, salaries and employee benefits increased due to an increase in commissions expense paid;

●

Premises and equipment increased by $381 thousand, or 11.2%, primarily due to increases related to Delmarva opening its new information technology and training center during the fourth quarter of 2020 and its new full-service branch at 26^th Street in Ocean City, Maryland during the second quarter of 2021, repairs and maintenance, purchases of equipment, furniture and software that did not qualify for capitalization and software amortization associated with Virginia Partners’ recently completed core conversion, which were partially offset by lower expenses related to building security at Virginia Partners;

●	Amortization of core deposit intangible decreased by $85 thousand, or 15.8%, primarily due to lower amortization related to the $2.7 million and $1.5 million, respectively, in core deposit intangibles recognized in the Virginia Partners and Liberty Bell Bank acquisitions;

●

Losses on other real estate owned, net increased by $108 thousand, or 144.8%, primarily due to valuation adjustments being recorded on properties during the first nine months of 2021, as compared to no valuation adjustments being recorded during the same period of 2020, which was partially offset by higher gains on sales of properties during the first nine months of 2021 as compared to the same period of 2020; and

●

Other operating expenses increased by $783 thousand, or 9.4%, primarily due to higher expenses related to FDIC insurance assessments, internet banking charges, director fees, printing and supplies, travel and entertainment, legal, consulting, telephone and data circuits, other losses, and debit/credit/merchant card transactions, which were partially offset by lower expenses related to loans and Nasdaq listing fees.

Table of Contents

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes was $839 thousand during the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to the provision for income taxes of $308 thousand during the three months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of $532 thousand or 172.7%. This increase was due primarily to higher consolidated income before taxes, which was partially offset by higher earnings on tax-exempt income, primarily bank owned life insurance policies. For the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company’s effective tax rate was approximately 23.8% as compared to 21.6% for the same period in 2020.

The provision for income taxes was $1.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to the provision for income taxes of $1.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of $436 thousand or 30.9%. This increase was due primarily to higher consolidated income before taxes, which was partially offset by higher earnings on tax-exempt income, primarily bank owned life insurance policies. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company’s effective tax rate was approximately 23.7% as compared to 23.6% for the same period in 2020.

In addition, Virginia Partners is not subject to Virginia state income tax, but instead pays Virginia franchise tax. The Virginia franchise tax paid by Virginia Partners is recorded in the “Other operating expenses” line item on the Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.

Financial Condition

Interest Earning Assets

Loans. Loans typically provide higher yields than the other types of interest-earning assets, and thus one of the Company's goals is to increase loan balances. Management attempts to control and counterbalance the inherent credit and liquidity risks associated with the higher loan yields without sacrificing asset quality to achieve its asset mix goals. Total gross loans, including unamortized discounts on acquired loans, averaged $1.09 billion and $1.06 billion during the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and averaged $1.08 billion and $1.04 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The following table shows the composition of the loan portfolio by category at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

Composition of Loan Portfolio by Category

(Dollars in Thousands)

As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020


	September 30,		December 31,
	2021		2020
Real Estate Mortgage
Construction and land development	$	103,133	$	74,706
Residential real estate		209,896		199,349
Nonresidential		618,277		569,745
Home equity loans		33,500		34,226
Commercial		135,615		152,798
Consumer and other loans		4,779		4,681
	$	1,105,200	$	1,035,505
Less: Allowance for credit losses		(15,031)		(13,203)
	$	1,090,169	$	1,022,302

Table of Contents

The following table sets forth the repricing characteristics and sensitivity to interest rate changes of the Company’s loan portfolio at September 30, 2021:

Loan Maturities and Interest Rate Sensitivity

(Dollars in thousands)


			Between
	One Year		One and		After
September 30, 2021	or Less		Five Years		Five Years		Total
Real Estate Mortgage
Construction and land development	$	44,801	$	37,400	$	20,932	$	103,133
Residential real estate		43,013		104,482		62,401		209,896
Nonresidential		122,271		354,254		141,752		618,277
Home equity loans		21,107		3,118		9,275		33,500
Commercial		41,477		64,563		29,575		135,615
Consumer and other loans		1,200		2,348		1,231		4,779
Total loans receivable	$	273,869	$	566,165	$	265,166	$	1,105,200
Fixed-rate loans	$	167,842	$	502,113	$	127,039	$	796,994
Floating-rate loans		106,027		64,052		138,127		308,206
	$	273,869	$	566,165	$	265,166	$	1,105,200

At September 30, 2021, real estate mortgage loans included $278.3 million of owner-occupied non-farm, non-residential loans, and $293.9 million of other non-farm, non-residential loans, which is 28.8% and 30.5% of real estate mortgage loans, respectively. By comparison, at December 31, 2020, real estate mortgage loans included $254.7 million of owner-occupied non-farm, non-residential loans, and $263.5 million of other non-farm, non-residential loans, which is 29.0% and 30.0% of real estate mortgage loans, respectively. This represents an increase at September 30, 2021 of $23.7 million and $30.4 million, or 9.3% and 11.5%, in owner-occupied non-farm, non-residential loans and other non-farm, non-residential loans, respectively.

At September 30, 2021, real estate mortgage loans included $103.1 million of construction and land development loans, and $28.9 million of multi-family residential loans, which are 10.7% and 3.0% of real estate mortgage loans, respectively. By comparison, at December 31, 2020, real estate mortgage loans included $74.7 million of construction and land development loans, and $28.6 million of multi-family residential loans, which were 8.5% and 3.4% of real estate mortgage loans, respectively. This represents an increase at September 30, 2021 of $28.4 million, or 38.0%, in construction and land development loans, and an increase at September 30, 2021 of $332 thousand, or 1.2%, in multi-family residential loans, respectively.

Commercial real estate loans, excluding owner-occupied non-farm, non-residential loans, were 259.9% of total risk-based capital at September 30, 2021, as compared to 234.0% at December 31, 2020. Construction and land development loans were 62.9% of total risk-based capital at September 30, 2021, as compared to 47.7% at December 31, 2020.

At September 30, 2021, real estate mortgage loans included home equity loans of $33.5 million and residential real estate loans of $209.9 million, compared to $34.2 million and $199.3 million at December 31, 2020, respectively. Home equity loans decreased $724 thousand, or 2.1%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, while residential real estate loans increased $10.5 million, or 5.3%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2021. At September 30, 2021, commercial loans were $135.6 million, compared to $152.8 million at December 31, 2020, a decrease of $17.2 million, or 11.2%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

Table of Contents

The overall increase in loans from the year ended December 31, 2020 to September 30, 2021 was due primarily to the origination and funding of approximately $30.9 million in loans under round two of the PPP, which was partially offset by forgiveness payments received of approximately $58.8 million under rounds one and two of the PPP, and an increase in organic growth, including growth of approximately $40.6 million in loans related to Virginia Partners’ recent expansion into the Greater Washington market. As of September 30, 2021, approximately $14.4 million in loans under rounds one and two of the PPP were still outstanding.

Beginning late in the first quarter of 2020, both Delmarva and Virginia Partners began assisting their customers in obtaining loans under the PPP in order to further assist their communities. Delmarva has provided access for customers and noncustomers to the program, allowing individuals or businesses visiting their website to access the SBA loan application and complete the process through a third party vendor. Loans processed through Delmarva’s website are funded by other banks or outside funding sources. During round one of this program, Virginia Partners, an SBA approved lender, directly originated and funded almost 700 loans totaling approximately $64.2 million, all of which were previously pledged as collateral to the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window under the PPP Liquidity Facility. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2020 and continuing through the third quarter of 2021, Virginia Partners received forgiveness payments from the Small Business Administration related to many of these loans. As of September 30, 2021, Virginia Partners had approximately $48 thousand in loans still outstanding under round one of this program, none of which have been pledged as collateral to the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window under the PPP Liquidity Facility. Remaining aggregate fees, net of costs to originate, from the Small Business Administration of approximately $2 thousand will continue to be recognized in interest income over the life of these loans. Upon forgiveness of these loans, the remaining aggregate fees, net of costs to originate, will be recognized in interest income on an accelerated basis, which Virginia Partners expects to continue through 2021.

Beginning early in the first quarter of 2021, both Delmarva and Virginia Partners began assisting their customers in obtaining loans under round two of this program in an identical manner as was done by each under round one of the program. As of September 30, 2021, Virginia Partners has directly originated and funded over 430 loans totaling approximately $30.9 million, none of which have been pledged as collateral to the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window under the PPP Liquidity Facility. As of September 30, 2021, Virginia Partners had approximately $14.4 million in loans still outstanding under round two of this program. Aggregate fees, net of costs to originate, from the Small Business Administration of approximately $733 thousand will continue to be recognized in interest income over the life of these loans. Upon forgiveness of these loans, the remaining aggregate fees, net of costs to originate, will be recognized in interest income on an accelerated basis.

Investment Securities. The investment securities portfolio is a significant component of the Company's total interest-earning assets. Total investment securities averaged $127.2 million during the three months ended September 30, 2021 as compared to $140.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. This represented 8.1% and 9.5% of total average interest-earning assets for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Total investment securities averaged $129.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 as compared to $125.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. This represented 8.5% and 9.3% of total average interest-earning assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The decrease in average total investment securities for the three months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period of 2020, was primarily due to accelerated pre-payments on mortgage-backed investment securities and calls on higher yielding investment securities in the low interest rate environment. The increase in average total investment securities for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period of 2020, was due to management of the investment securities portfolio in light of the Company’s liquidity needs, which was partially offset by accelerated pre-payments on mortgage-backed investment securities and calls on higher yielding investment securities in the low interest rate environment.

The Company classifies all of its investment securities as available for sale. This classification requires that investment securities be recorded at their fair value with any difference between the fair value and amortized cost (the purchase price adjusted by any discount accretion or premium amortization) reported as a component of stockholders’ equity (accumulated other comprehensive income), net of deferred taxes. At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, investment securities available for sale, at fair value totaled $115.6 million and $124.9 million, respectively. Investment securities available for sale, at fair value decreased by $9.4 million, or 7.5%, during the nine months ended

Table of Contents

September 30, 2021. This decrease was primarily due to higher yielding investment securities being called, accelerated prepayments on mortgage-backed investment securities in the low interest rate environment and a decrease in unrealized gains on the investment securities available for sale portfolio. The Company attempts to maintain an investment securities portfolio of high quality, highly liquid investments with returns competitive with short-term U.S. Treasury or agency obligations. This objective is particularly important as the Company focuses on growing its loan portfolio. The Company primarily invests in securities of U.S. Government agencies, municipals, and corporate obligations. At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 there were no issuers, other than the U.S. Government and its agencies, whose securities owned by the Company had a book or fair value exceeding 10% of the Company's stockholders' equity.

The following table summarizes the amortized cost and fair value of investment securities available for sale for the as of September 30, 2021:

Amortized Cost and Fair Value of Investment Securities

(Dollars in Thousands)


	September 30, 2021
					Gross		Gross
	Amortized		Percentage		Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
	Cost		of Total		Gains		Losses		Value
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies and corporations	$	5,575	4.9	%	$	65	$	118	$	5,522
Obligations of States and political subdivisions		34,047	29.8	%		1,395		35		35,407
Mortgage-backed securities		72,700	63.6	%		421		540		72,581
Subordinated debt investments		1,990	1.7	%		52		2		2,040
	$	114,312	100.0	%	$	1,933	$	695	$	115,550

In addition, the Company holds stock in various correspondent banks as well as the Federal Reserve Bank. The balance of these securities was $4.9 million and $5.4 million at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, a decrease of $575 thousand, or 10.6%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

Due to the increase in longer term interest rates and ongoing volatility in the securities markets during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the net unrealized gains in the Company’s investment securities available for sale portfolio decreased by approximately $1.8 million, or 59.8%, to $1.2 million at September 30, 2021.

Subsequent interest rate fluctuations could have an adverse effect on our investment securities available for sale portfolio by increasing reinvestment risk and reducing our ability to achieve our targeted investment returns.

Interest Bearing Liabilities

Deposits. Average total deposits increased from $1.22 billion to $1.43 billion, an increase of $214.6 million, or 17.7%, for the three months ended September 30, 2021 over the average total deposits for the three months ended September 30, 2020. Average total deposits increased from $1.12 billion to $1.37 billion, an increase of $255.8 million, or 22.9%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 over the average total deposits for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. These increases were primarily due to organic deposit growth. At September 30, 2021, total deposits were $1.44 billion as compared to $1.27 billion at December 31, 2020, an increase of $167.3 million, or 13.2%. This increase was primarily driven by organic growth as a result of our continued focus on total relationship banking and Virginia Partners’ recent expansion into the Greater Washington market, customers seeking the liquidity and safety of deposit accounts in light of continuing economic uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and the funding of loans under round two of the PPP, the proceeds of which are deposited directly into the operating accounts of these customers at the Company. Non-interest bearing demand deposits increased to $493.8 million at September 30, 2021, a $103.3 million, or 26.4%, increase from $390.5 million in non-interest bearing demand deposits at December 31, 2020, due primarily to the aforementioned items above with respect to average total deposits.

Table of Contents

The following table sets forth the deposits of the Company by category for the period indicated:

Deposits by Category

As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020

(Dollars in Thousands)


	September 30,		Percentage		December 31,		Percentage
	2021		of Deposits		2020		of Deposits
Noninterest bearing deposits	$	493,786	34.40	%	$	390,511	30.79	%
Interest bearing deposits:
Money market, NOW, and savings accounts		531,947	37.06	%		448,619	35.38	%
Certificates of deposit, $100 thousand or more		—	—	%		—	—	%
Other certificates of deposit		409,720	28.54	%		429,010	33.83	%
Total interest bearing deposits		941,667	65.60	%		877,629	69.21	%
Total	$	1,435,453	100.00	%	$	1,268,140	100.00	%

The Company's loan-to-deposit ratio was 77.0% at September 30, 2021 as compared to 81.7% at December 31, 2020. Core deposits, which exclude certificates of deposit of more than $250 thousand, provide a relatively stable funding source for the Company's loan portfolio and other interest-earning assets. The Company's core deposits were $1.34 billion at September 30, 2021, an increase of $205.6 million, or 18.1%, from $1.13 billion at December 31, 2020, and excluded $95.2 million and $133.5 million in certificates of deposit of $250 thousand or more as of those dates, respectively. Management anticipates that a stable base of deposits will be the Company's primary source of funding to meet both its short-term and long-term liquidity needs in the future, and, therefore, feels that presenting core deposits provides valuable information to investors.

The following table provides a summary of the Company’s maturity distribution for certificates of deposit at the date indicated:

Maturities of Certificates of Deposit

(Dollars in Thousands)


	September 30,
	2021
Three months or less	$	69,661
Over three months through six months		41,615
Over six months through twelve months		115,922
Over twelve months		182,522
Total	$	409,720

The following table provides a summary of the Company’s maturity distribution for certificates of deposit of greater than $100 thousand or more at the date indicated:

Maturities of Certificates of Deposit Greater than $100 Thousand

(Dollars in Thousands)


	September 30,
	2021
Three months or less	$	45,268
Over three months through six months		25,917
Over six months through twelve months		76,347
Over twelve months		125,319
Total	$	272,851

Table of Contents

Borrowings. Borrowings at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 consist primarily of long-term borrowings with the FHLB, subordinated notes payable, net, and other borrowings.

At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there were no short-term borrowings with the FHLB. At September 30, 2021, long-term borrowings with the FHLB were $26.5 million as compared to $33.0 million at December 31, 2020, a decrease of $6.5 million, or 19.7%. This decrease was primarily due to maturities and payoffs of borrowings that were not replaced. These borrowings are collateralized by a blanket lien on the first mortgage loans in the amount of the outstanding borrowings, FHLB capital stock, and amounts on deposit with the FHLB.

At September 30, 2021, subordinated notes payable, net, were $22.2 million as compared to $24.1 million at December 31, 2020, a decrease of $1.9 million, or 8.1% related to the early redemption of $2.0 million in subordinated notes payable, net, in early July 2021, partially offset by the amortization of the debt issuance costs.

At September 30, 2021, other borrowings were $640 thousand as compared to $42.4 million at December 31, 2020, a decrease of $41.7 million, or 98.5%. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in borrowings at the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window under the PPP Liquidity Facility in which the loans under the PPP originated by Virginia Partners had previously been pledged as collateral. During the first quarter of 2021, Virginia Partners used a portion of its excess cash and cash equivalents to repay all borrowings that were previously outstanding under the PPP Liquidity Facility. In addition, Virginia Partners majority owned subsidiary, Johnson Mortgage Company, LLC, has a warehouse line of credit with another financial institution in the amount of $3.0 million, of which $0 and $142 thousand were outstanding as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

See Note 4 – Borrowings and Notes Payable of the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information on the Company’s subordinated notes payable, net, and Johnson Mortgage Company, LLC’s warehouse line of credit.

The following table provides a summary of average outstanding short term borrowings and weighted average rate for each period:

Average Short Term Borrowings

At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020

(Dollars in Thousands)


September 30,				December 31,
2021				2020
		Weighted				Weighted
Average		Average		Average		Average
Balance		Rate		Balance		Rate
$	—	—	%	$	24,769	1.71	%

Table of Contents

Average short-term borrowings decreased by $21.2 million, or 100.0%, and average rates paid decreased by 0.21% for the three months ended September 30, 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020. Average short-term borrowings decreased by $27.8 million, or 100.0%, and average rates paid decreased by 0.93% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020. These decreases were due primarily to decreases in short-term borrowings with the FHLB due to maturities that were not replaced.

Average total borrowings decreased by $113.4 million, or 69.5%, and average rates paid increased by 1.97% to 3.92% for the three months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020. The decrease in average total borrowings balances was primarily due to a decrease in the average balance of Federal Home Loan Bank advances resulting from maturities and payoffs of borrowings that were not replaced, a decrease in average borrowings at the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window under the PPP Liquidity Facility in which the loans under the PPP originated by the Company were previously pledged as collateral, and the early redemption of $2.0 million in subordinated notes payable, net, in early July 2021. The increase in average rates paid was primarily due to the decreases in the average balances of Federal Home Loan Bank advances and borrowings at the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window under the PPP Liquidity Facility, which were lower cost interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by the early redemption of subordinated notes payable, which was a higher cost interest-bearing liability. Average total borrowings decreased by $71.1 million, or 53.5%, and average rates paid increased by 1.49% to 3.51% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020. The decrease in average total borrowings balances was primarily due to a decrease in the average balance of Federal Home Loan Bank advances resulting from maturities and payoffs of borrowings that were not replaced, a decrease in average borrowings at the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window under the PPP Liquidity Facility in which the loans under the PPP originated by the Company were previously pledged as collateral, and the early redemption of $2.0 million in subordinated notes payable, net, in early July 2021, which were partially offset by the issuance of $18.1 million in subordinated notes payable, net, in late June 2020. The increase in average rates paid was primarily due to the issuance of subordinated notes payable, which is a higher cost interest-bearing liability, and the decreases in the average balances of Federal Home Loan Bank advances and borrowings at the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window under the PPP Liquidity Facility, which were both lower cost interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by the early redemption of subordinated notes payable, which was a higher cost interest-bearing liability.

Capital

The Federal Reserve and other bank regulatory agencies require bank holding companies and financial institutions to maintain capital at adequate levels based on a percentage of assets and off-balance sheet exposures, adjusted for risk weights ranging from 0% to 100%. The following table presents actual and required capital ratios as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 for Delmarva and Virginia Partners under Basel III Capital Rules. The minimum required capital amounts presented include the minimum required capital levels as of September 30, 2021 based on the phase-in provisions of the Basel III Capital Rules and the minimum required capital levels as of January 1, 2019 when the Basel III Capital Rules were fully phased-in. Capital levels required for an institution to be considered well capitalized are based upon prompt corrective action regulations, as amended to reflect the changes under the Basel III Capital Rules. See Note 10 – Regulatory Capital Requirements of the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a more in depth discussion of regulatory capital requirements.

Table of Contents

Capital Components

At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020

(Dollars in Thousands)


									To Be Well
									Capitalized
					For Capital				Under Prompt
					Adequacy				Corrective Action
	Actual				Purposes				Provisions
	Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio
As of September 30, 2021
Total Capital Ratio
(To Risk Weighted Assets)
The Bank of Delmarva		89,443	12.8	%		73,341	10.5	%		69,848	10.0	%
Virginia Partners Bank		55,846	12.4	%		47,450	10.5	%		45,190	10.0	%
Tier 1 Capital Ratio
(To Risk Weighted Assets)
The Bank of Delmarva		80,670	11.5	%		59,371	8.5	%		55,879	8.0	%
Virginia Partners Bank		52,703	11.7	%		38,412	8.5	%		36,152	8.0	%
Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio
(To Risk Weighted Assets)
The Bank of Delmarva		80,670	11.5	%		48,894	7.0	%		45,401	6.5	%
Virginia Partners Bank		52,703	11.7	%		31,633	7.0	%		29,374	6.5	%
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio
(To Average Assets)
The Bank of Delmarva		80,670	7.9	%		40,823	4.0	%		51,029	5.0	%
Virginia Partners Bank		52,703	8.8	%		23,920	4.0	%		29,900	5.0	%


									To Be Well
									Capitalized
					For Capital				Under Prompt
					Adequacy				Corrective Action
	Actual				Purposes				Provisions
	Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio
As of December 31, 2020
Total Capital Ratio
(To Risk Weighted Assets)
The Bank of Delmarva		85,497	12.9	%		69,608	10.5	%		66,294	10.0	%
Virginia Partners Bank		51,971	13.5	%		40,381	10.5	%		38,459	10.0	%
Tier 1 Capital Ratio
(To Risk Weighted Assets)
The Bank of Delmarva		77,168	11.6	%		56,350	8.5	%		53,035	8.0	%
Virginia Partners Bank		50,271	13.1	%		32,690	8.5	%		30,767	8.0	%
Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio
(To Risk Weighted Assets)
The Bank of Delmarva		77,168	11.6	%		46,406	7.0	%		43,091	6.5	%
Virginia Partners Bank		50,271	13.1	%		26,921	7.0	%		24,998	6.5	%
Tier1I Leverage Ratio
(To Average Assets)
The Bank of Delmarva		77,168	8.1	%		38,262	4.0	%		47,827	5.0	%
Virginia Partners Bank		50,271	9.5	%		21,253	4.0	%		26,567	5.0	%

Table of Contents

Liquidity Management

Liquidity management involves monitoring the Company's sources and uses of funds in order to meet its day-to-day cash flow requirements while maximizing profits. Liquidity represents the ability of a company to convert assets into cash or cash equivalents without significant loss and to raise additional funds by increasing liabilities. Liquidity management is made more complicated because different balance sheet components are subject to varying degrees of management control. For example, the timing of maturities of the available for sale investment securities portfolio is very predictable and subject to a high degree of control at the time investment decisions are made; however, net deposit inflows and outflows are far less predictable and are not subject to the same degree of control. Asset liquidity is provided by cash and assets which are readily marketable, which can be pledged, or which will mature in the near future. Liability liquidity is provided by access to core funding sources, principally the ability to generate customer deposits in the Company's market area. The Company's cash and cash equivalents position, which includes funds in cash and due from banks, interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions, and federal funds sold, averaged $354.7 million and $316.3 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, and totaled $346.9 million at September 30, 2021, as compared to an average of $275.1 million and $180.8 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, and a year-end position of $282.6 million at December 31, 2020.

Also, the Company has available advances from the FHLB. Advances available are generally based upon the amount of qualified first mortgage loans which can be used for collateral. At September 30, 2021, advances available totaled approximately $401.8 million of which $26.5 million had been drawn, or used for letters of credit. Management regularly reviews the liquidity position of the Company and has implemented internal policies which establish guidelines for sources of asset-based liquidity and limit the total amount of purchased funds used to support the balance sheet and funding from non-core sources. Subject to certain aggregation rules, FDIC deposit insurance covers the funds in deposit accounts up to $250 thousand.

Impact of Inflation

Unlike most industrial companies, the assets and liabilities of financial institutions such as the Company are primarily monetary in nature. Therefore, interest rates have a more significant effect on the Company's performance than do the effects of changes in the general rate of inflation and change in prices. In addition, interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or in the same magnitude as the prices of goods and services. As discussed previously, management seeks to manage the relationships between interest sensitive assets and liabilities in order to protect against wide interest rate fluctuations, including those resulting from inflation.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

With the exception of the Company's obligations in connection with its irrevocable letters of credit and loan commitments, the Company has no other off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on its financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, or capital resources, that is material to investors.

Accounting Standards Update

See Note 16 - Recent Accounting Pronouncements of the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for details on recently issued accounting pronouncements and their expected impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Table of Contents

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

Not required.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

The Company’s management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated, as of the last day of the period covered by this report, the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2021. There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as defined in the Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) that occurred during the first nine months of 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

From time to time the Company, Delmarva and Partners are a party to various litigation matters incidental to the conduct of their respective businesses. The Company, Delmarva and Partners are not presently party to any legal proceedings the resolution of which the Company, Delmarva and Partners believes would have a material adverse effect on their respective businesses, prospects, financial condition, liquidity, results of operation, cash flows or capital levels.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.

The following risk factors should be considered in addition to the risk factors disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Such factors relate to the Company's pending merger with OCFC.

Because the market price of OCFC common stock will fluctuate, the value of the merger consideration to be received by our shareholders may change.

On November 4, 2021, the Company announced the signing of a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 4, 2021, pursuant to which the Company will be acquired by OCFC. Under the terms of the merger agreement, each share of Company common stock (other than Exception Shares, as defined in the merger agreement), will be converted into the right to receive either 0.4512 shares of common stock of OCFC or $10.00, in each case, at the election of the holder of Company common stock, subject to a maximum of forty percent (40%) of the shares of Company common stock being convertible into cash and the allocation and proration provisions of the merger agreement. The closing price of OCFC common stock on the date that the merger is completed may vary from the closing price of OCFC common stock on the date OCFC and the Company announced the signing of the merger agreement and the date of the special meeting of Company shareholders regarding the merger. Because the stock portion of the merger consideration is determined by a fixed exchange ratio, at the time of the Company special meeting and at the time of the election with respect to the receipt of stock or cash consideration, Company shareholders will not know or be able to calculate the value of the shares of OCFC common stock they may receive upon completion of the merger. Any change in the market price of OCFC common stock prior to completion of the merger may affect the value of the stock portion of the merger consideration. Stock price changes may result from a variety of factors, including general market and economic conditions, changes in the companies’ respective businesses, operations and prospects, and regulatory considerations, among other things. Many of these factors are beyond the control of OCFC and the Company. Company shareholders should obtain current market quotations for shares of OCFC common stock and Company common stock before voting their shares at the Company special meeting and making their election with respect to the form of merger consideration they wish to receive.

Table of Contents

Company shareholders may receive a form of consideration different from what they elect with respect to the merger with OCFC.

Although each holder of Company common stock may elect to receive as consideration shares of OCFC common stock, only cash or a combination of OCFC common stock and cash, such elections are subject to a maximum of forty percent (40%) of the shares of Company common stock being convertible into cash and the allocation and proration provisions of the merger agreement. As a result, if the aggregate cash elections exceed forty percent (40%) of the shares of Company common stock, Company shareholders who elected cash will receive some of their merger consideration in a form that they did not elect.

Regulatory approvals may not be received, may take longer than expected or may impose conditions that are not presently anticipated or cannot be met.

Before the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement may be completed, various approvals must be obtained from bank regulatory authorities. In determining whether to grant these approvals, the applicable regulatory authorities consider a variety of factors, including the competitive impact of the proposal in the relevant geographic markets; financial, managerial and other supervisory considerations of each party; convenience and needs of the communities to be served and the record of the insured depository institution subsidiaries under the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 and the regulations promulgated thereunder; effectiveness of the parties in combating money laundering activities; any significant outstanding supervisory matters; and the extent to which the proposal would result in greater or more concentrated risks to the stability of the United States banking or financial system. These regulatory authorities may impose conditions on the granting of such approvals. Such conditions or changes and the process of obtaining regulatory approvals could have the effect of delaying completion of the merger or of imposing additional costs or limitations on the combined company following the merger. The regulatory approvals may not be received at all, may not be received in a timely fashion, or may contain conditions on the completion of the mergers that are not anticipated or cannot be met. Furthermore, such conditions or changes may constitute a burdensome condition that may allow OCFC to terminate the merger agreement and OCFC may exercise its right to terminate the merger agreement. If the consummation of the mergers is delayed, including by a delay in receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company may also be materially and adversely affected.

Failure of the merger to be completed, the termination of the merger agreement or a significant delay in the consummation of the merger could negatively impact the Company.

The merger agreement is subject to a number of conditions which must be fulfilled in order to complete the mergers. These conditions to the consummation of the merger may not be fulfilled and, accordingly, the merger may not be completed. In addition, if the merger is not completed by November 4, 2022, either OCFC or the Company may choose to terminate the merger agreement at any time after that date if the failure of the effective time to occur on or before that date is not caused by any breach of the merger agreement by the party electing to terminate the merger agreement. If the merger is not consummated, the ongoing business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company may be materially adversely affected and the market price of the Company’s common stock may decline significantly, particularly to the extent that the current market price reflects a market assumption that the merger will be consummated.

In addition, the Company has incurred and will incur substantial expenses in connection with the negotiation and completion of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. If the merger is not completed, the Company would have to recognize these expenses without realizing the expected benefits of the merger. Any of the foregoing, or other risks arising in connection with the failure of or delay in consummating the merger, including the diversion of management attention from pursuing other opportunities and the constraints in the merger agreement on the ability to make significant changes to the Company’s ongoing business during the pendency of the merger, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. If the merger agreement is terminated and the Company’s board of directors seeks another merger or business combination, Company shareholders cannot be certain that the Company will be able to find a party willing to engage in a transaction on more attractive terms than the merger with OCFC.

Table of Contents

The Company will be subject to business uncertainties and contractual restrictions while the mergers are pending.

Uncertainty about the effect of the merger on employees, customers (including depositors and borrowers), suppliers and vendors may have an adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company. These uncertainties may impair the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel and customers (including depositors and borrowers) pending the consummation of the merger, as such personnel and customers may experience uncertainty about their future roles and relationships following the consummation of the merger. Additionally, these uncertainties could cause customers (including depositors and borrowers), suppliers, vendors and others who deal with the Company to seek to change existing business relationships with the Company or fail to extend an existing relationship with the Company. In addition, competitors may target the Company’s existing customers by highlighting potential uncertainties and integration difficulties that may result from the merger.

The pursuit of the merger and the preparation for the integration may place a burden on the Company’s management and internal resources. Any significant diversion of management attention away from ongoing business concerns and any difficulties encountered in the transition and integration process could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the merger agreement restricts each party from taking certain actions without the other party’s consent while the merger is pending. These restrictions could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

The merger agreement contains provisions that may discourage other companies from pursuing, announcing or submitting a business combination proposal to the Company that might result in greater value to Company shareholders.

The merger agreement contains provisions that may discourage a third party from pursuing, announcing or submitting a business combination proposal to the Company that might result in greater value to Company shareholders than the merger with OCFC. These provisions include a general prohibition on the Company from soliciting, or, subject to certain exceptions, entering into discussions with any third party regarding any acquisition proposal or offers for competing transactions. Furthermore, if the merger agreement is terminated, under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to pay OCFC a termination fee equal to $7,400,000. The Company also has an obligation to submit its merger-related proposals to a vote by its shareholders, including if the Company receives an unsolicited proposal that the Company board of directors believes is superior to the merger, unless the merger agreement is terminated by the Company under certain conditions described in the merger agreement.

Litigation against the Company or OCFC, or the members of the Company’s or OCFC’s board of directors, could prevent or delay the completion of the OCFC Merger.

Purported shareholder plaintiffs may assert legal claims related to the OCFC merger. The results of any such potential legal proceeding would be difficult to predict and such legal proceedings could delay or prevent the merger from being completed in a timely manner. The existence of litigation related to the merger could affect the likelihood of obtaining the required approval from Company’s shareholders. Moreover, any litigation could be time consuming and expensive, and could divert attention of the Company’s and OCFC’s respective management teams away from their companies’ regular business. Any lawsuit adversely resolved against the Company, OCFC or members of their respective boards of directors, could have a material adverse effect on each party’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

One of the conditions to the consummation of the merger is the absence of any law, order, decree or injunction (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) or other action taken by the governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that restricts, enjoins or prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the merger. Consequently, if a settlement or other resolution is not reached in any lawsuit that is filed or any regulatory proceeding and a claimant secures injunctive or other relief or a governmental authority issues an order or other directive restricting, prohibiting or making illegal the completion of the transactions

Table of Contents

contemplated by the merger agreement, including the merger, then such injunctive or other relief may prevent the merger from being completed in a timely manner or at all.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

On November 12, 2020, the Company issued a press release announcing that its Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program (the “Program”). Under the Program, the Company is authorized to purchase up to 356,000 outstanding shares of its common stock. The Company may repurchase shares in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions.

The actual timing, number and value of shares repurchased under the Program depends on a number of factors, including constraints specified in any Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, price, general business and market conditions, and alternative investment opportunities. The Program does not obligate the Company to acquire any specific number of shares in any period, and may be expanded, extended, modified or discontinued at any time. Any shares acquired will be cancelled and become authorized but unissued shares, available for future issuance.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2021, the Company did not make any repurchases of common stock under the Program, as shown in the following table.


			Total Number	Maximum Number
	Total Number	Average Price	of Shares Purchased as Part	Of Shares that May Yet Be
	of Shares	Paid Per	of the Publicly Announced	Purchased Under the
Period	Purchased	Share	Plans or Programs	Plans or Programs
July 1, 2021 to July 31, 2021	—	$ -	—	255,800
August 1, 2021 to August 31, 2021	—	$ -	—	255,800
September 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021	—	$ -	—	255,800
	—	$ -	—

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

Not applicable.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

None.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION.

None.

Table of Contents

ITEM 6. EXHIBIT


2.1	Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 4, 2021, by and among OceanFirst Financial Corp, Coastal Merger Sub Corp., and Partners Bancorp (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 4, 2021).*
3.1	Articles of Incorporation of Partners Bancorp (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-230599) filed on May 10, 2019)
3.1.1	Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Delmar Bancorp, dated December 20, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 20, 2019)
3.1.2	Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Partners Bancorp, effective as of August 19, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 20, 2020)
3.2	Bylaws of Partners Bancorp, effective as of August 19, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 20, 2020)
10.17	First Amendment, effective as of November 4, 2021, to the Employment Agreement, dated December 13, 2018, by and among Partners Bancorp, The Bank of Delmarva, and John W. Breda (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 4, 2021).**
10.18	First Amendment, effective as of November 4, 2021, to the Employment Agreement, dated December 13, 2018, by and among Partners Bancorp, Virginia Partners Bank, and Lloyd B. Harrison, III (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 4, 2021).**
10.19	Partners Bancorp Form of Time-Based Restricted Stock Agreement for Employees.**
10.20	Partners Bancorp Form of Time-Based Restricted Stock Agreement for Non-Employee Directors.**
31.1	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of the Principal Executive Officer
31.2	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of the Principal Financial Officer
32.1	Section 1350 Statement of Principal Executive Officer
32.2	Section 1350 Statement of Principal Financial Officer

101.INS	Inline XBRL Instance Document (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

101.SCH	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

101.CAL	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

101.DEF	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

101.LAB	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

Table of Contents


101.PRE	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

104	Cover Page Interactive Data File – formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101.

* The schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. Partners Bancorp agrees to furnish a copy of such schedules and exhibits, or any section thereof, to the SEC upon request.

** Management contract or compensatory plan or agreement.

Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


	Partners Bancorp (Registrant)


Date: November 12, 2021	/s/ Lloyd B. Harrison, III
	Lloyd B. Harrison, III
	Chief Executive Officer
	(Principal Executive Officer)


Date: November 12, 2021	/s/ J. Adam Sothen
	J. Adam Sothen
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
	(Principal Financial Officer)